Shloka 65

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

दिनानि दश पिण्डांश्च कुर्वन्त्यत्र सुतादयः / प्रत्यहं ते विभज्यन्ते चतुर्भागाः खगेश्वर

Transliteration

dināni daśa piṇḍāṃśca kurvantyatra sutādayaḥ / pratyahaṃ te vibhajyante caturbhāgāḥ khageśvara

Translation

For ten days here, the sons and other relatives prepare the piṇḍas. Each day, O Lord of Birds (Garuda), those offerings are apportioned into four parts.

Word by Word

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; ‘दिनानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• कुर्वन्ति: they perform/make
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अत्र: here (in this rite/context)
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सुतादयः: sons and others
• सुतादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘son and others’)

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Kāla-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + अहन् (अव्यय/समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverb: ‘each day’)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘they’

• विभज्यन्ते: are divided
• विभज्यन्ते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मणि/मध्यस्थ-भावः—‘are divided’

• चतुर्भागाः: into four portions
• चतुर्भागाः: Karma (Result/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘four parts’)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘lord of birds’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily for ten days

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: दशदिन-पिण्डकर्म by sons/relatives with daily fourfold apportioning of offerings (chaturbhāga-vibhāga).

Vedantic Theme: Ritual order (ṛta/dharma) expressed through precise partitioning; communal responsibility in pitṛ obligations.

Application: Organize family participation across ten days; follow the prescribed division of offerings into four parts each day according to the local śrāddha paddhati/tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting during ten-day period (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: detailed śrāddha distribution rules (vibhāga) in śrāddha-kalpa portions; Garuda Purana: Garuḍa addressed as interlocutor in Pretakalpa narrative frame

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Sons (Sutādayaḥ)
• Departed ancestor (Preta, implied)

FAQs

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

This verse states that for ten days the family—especially the sons—must prepare piṇḍa offerings, marking a structured period of post-death rites (preta-kriyā) meant to support the departed’s transition.

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

By emphasizing daily offerings and their regulated division, the verse presents the after-death journey as aided by prescribed rites performed by relatives, indicating that ritual support is given step-by-step rather than as a single act.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows these traditions, perform the ten-day rites with consistency and care, ensuring family responsibility and disciplined remembrance; ethically, it reinforces duty (dharma) toward elders and the departed.