Shloka 63

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

तदभावे च शिष्येण तदभावे सहोदरः / श्मशाने चान्यतीर्थे वा जलं पिण्डं च दापयेत्

Transliteration

tadabhāve ca śiṣyeṇa tadabhāve sahodaraḥ / śmaśāne cānyatīrthe vā jalaṃ piṇḍaṃ ca dāpayet

Translation

If the eligible performer is unavailable, then the disciple should perform it; if even the disciple is unavailable, then a brother should do so. Whether at the cremation ground (śmaśāna) or at another sacred ford (tīrtha), one should have water-offerings and piṇḍa-offerings made.

Word by Word

• तद्: of that (person)
• तद्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे एकवचन (in ‘tad-abhāve’)

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Nimitta (Condition/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in absence’

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

• शिष्येण: by a disciple
• शिष्येण: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तद्: of that (disciple)
• तद्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे एकवचन (in ‘tad-abhāve’)

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Nimitta (Condition/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहोदरः: a brother (uterine)
• सहोदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सह + उदर: ‘sharing the same womb’)

• श्मशाने: in the cremation-ground
• श्मशाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अन्यतीर्थे: at another sacred place
• अन्यतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘other’ + ‘holy place’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa (rice-ball)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• दापयेत्: should have (them) given/offered
• दापयेत्: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) (णिच् causative: दापय)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य (optative/vidhi), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative—‘should cause to be given’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the ten-day preta rites (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: अधिकार-क्रम: son → disciple → brother; and स्थान-लचीलापन: śmaśāna or tīrtha both valid for udaka and piṇḍa offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order through adaptable means (upāya) while preserving intent (saṅkalpa).

Application: If the primary performer is unavailable, appoint the next eligible person; if the cremation site is inaccessible, perform at a reputable tīrtha with proper dedication.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground / tīrtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of adhikārins for śrāddha/antyeṣṭi in surrounding verses; Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas supporting efficacy of rites at sacred waters

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of pinda-dana and water offering in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes continuity of the departed’s rites: even if the primary performer is unavailable, an authorized substitute should ensure udaka (water) and piṇḍa offerings are made, supporting the preta-related obligations.

Who can perform the rites if the main eligible person is not available?

According to this verse, if the primary person is absent, the disciple may perform; if the disciple is also absent, a brother (sahodara) can arrange the water and piṇḍa offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a family is unable to perform rites personally, they should still ensure the essential offerings are properly arranged through an eligible proxy (such as a close kin or authorized disciple), maintaining dharmic responsibility toward the departed.