Shloka 42

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

दत्ते तृतीये पिण्डे ऽस्मिन्देहदोषैः प्रमुच्यते / आधारभूतजीवश्चज्वलनैर्ज्वालयेच्चिताम्

Transliteration

datte tṛtīye piṇḍe 'smindehadoṣaiḥ pramucyate / ādhārabhūtajīvaścajvalanairjvālayeccitām

Translation

When the third piṇḍa is offered, this being is freed from the impurities of the body; and the jīva, becoming the sustaining support, kindles the funeral pyre (citā) by means of fire.

Word by Word

• दत्ते: is given/gives
• दत्ते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘gives/is given’ (contextually: when the third piṇḍa is given)

• तृतीये: in/at the third
• तृतीये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (piṇḍe)

• पिण्डे: in the piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देहदोषैः: by bodily दोषas (defects/impurities)
• देहदोषैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देहस्य दोषाः)

• प्रमुच्यते: is released/freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः: ‘is freed’

• आधारभूतजीवः: the jīva that has become the support (i.e., the sustaining soul)
• आधारभूतजीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (आधारः भूतो यः जीवः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• ज्वलनैः: by fires/flames
• ज्वलनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ज्वालयेत्: should ignite/cause to burn
• ज्वालयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative): ‘should cause to burn’

• चिताम्: the funeral pyre
• चिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During cremation sequence (immediate post-death rites)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual offering affects subtle transition: release from deha-doṣa and enabling the final separation via agni

Vedantic Theme: Deha-ātma-viveka implied: impurities belong to body; jīva proceeds through saṃskāra-mediated transition

Application: Complete the third piṇḍa with focused sankalpa for purification and unobstructed cremation rites

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions on deha-doṣa, preta purification, and the role of agni in separation; 2.15.41 on third piṇḍa assignment; 2.15.43–45 on establishing fire and offering

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of the third piṇḍa in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering the third piṇḍa helps free the departed being from bodily impurities (deha-doṣa), marking a key purificatory step in preta-related rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It portrays the jīva as continuing as an active principle after death—becoming an ‘ādhāra’ (support) and connected with the cremation process, while the ritual offering aids purification in the preta state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with care and sincerity, treating the rites as acts of purification and support for the departed, while living ethically to reduce ‘doṣa’ (impurities) in one’s own life.