Shloka 61

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

गर्ते पिण्डा दशाहं च दातव्याश्च दिनेदिने / जलाञ्जलीः प्रदातव्याः प्रेतमुद्दिश्य नित्यशः

Transliteration

garte piṇḍā daśāhaṃ ca dātavyāśca dinedine / jalāñjalīḥ pradātavyāḥ pretamuddiśya nityaśaḥ

Translation

In the pit prepared for the rite, piṇḍa-offerings should be given for ten days, day after day; and water-libations (jalāñjali) should likewise be offered daily, ever dedicating them to the preta, the departed spirit.

Word by Word

• गर्ते: in a pit
• गर्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पिण्डाः: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दशाहम्: for ten days
• दशाहम्: Kāla-adhikarana (Time-span/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (दश + अह)

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

• दातव्याः: should be given
• दातव्याः: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (gerundive/future passive participle), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विधेयभावः—‘to be given/should be given’

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

• दिने: on a day
• दिने: Kāla-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• दिने: each day
• दिने: Kāla-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति—‘day by day’

• जलाञ्जलीः: water-offerings (handfuls of water)
• जलाञ्जलीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जलस्य अञ्जलिः)

• प्रदातव्याः: should be offered
• प्रदातव्याः: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (gerundive), बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘to be offered/should be offered’

• प्रेतम्: the departed spirit
• प्रेतम्: Sampradana (Intended recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: having intended/addressing (for)
• उद्दिश्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• नित्यशः: always, regularly
• नित्यशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily for ten days (दशाह) after death

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: दशाह-पिण्डदान and daily जलाञ्जलि as obligatory support for the preta’s transitional state.

Vedantic Theme: कर्तव्य-कर्म (niyata-karma) performed without negligence; compassion expressed as dharmic action.

Application: Maintain a ten-day schedule: offer piṇḍa and water-libations daily with explicit preta-uddiśya saṅkalpa; ensure consistency and cleanliness of the rite-space.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: दशाह-क्रिया and प्रेतोदक/जलाञ्जलि discussions in adjacent adhyāyas; Garuda Purana: श्राद्ध-कल्प sections on पिण्डदान and उदकदान

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of ten-day piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes piṇḍa offerings for ten consecutive days, indicating a structured, time-bound support rite for the departed in the preta-state.

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

By naming the departed as “preta” and prescribing daily offerings, the verse implies an intermediate post-death condition where ritual nourishment and dedication are believed to aid the departed’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regularity and sincerity in memorial rites—whether traditional piṇḍa-dāna and water-libations or culturally appropriate remembrance—performed with clear dedication to the departed.