Shloka 72
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
देहं प्राप्तः क्षुधाविष्टो गृहे द्वारे च तिष्ठति / दशमे ऽहनि यः पिण्डस्तं दद्यादामिषेण तु
dehaṃ prāptaḥ kṣudhāviṣṭo gṛhe dvāre ca tiṣṭhati / daśame 'hani yaḥ piṇḍastaṃ dadyādāmiṣeṇa tu
Having obtained a subtle body and being tormented by hunger, he stands at the doorway of his house. Therefore, the piṇḍa offered on the tenth day should be given together with āmiṣa—meat as an offering.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Daśame ahani (10th day)
Concept: The departed, possessing a subtle body, remains near the home and is relieved through correctly timed offerings.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and saṃskāra-driven obligations of the living toward the departed (ṛṇa to pitṛs).
Application: Perform the tenth-day piṇḍa with the specified upacāra (here, āmiṣa) according to one’s tradition/adhikāra and local śrāddha rules.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: household threshold
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta lingering near home; tenth-day hunger and piṇḍa efficacy (2.15.71–75)
FAQs
This verse links the tenth-day piṇḍa to relieving the departed, who is described as standing hungry at the home’s doorway; the offering is prescribed as a direct support to the preta’s condition.
It portrays an intermediate preta-state in which the departed has obtained a post-death body and experiences intense hunger, lingering near the household until proper rites and offerings are performed.
Perform post-death rites (especially piṇḍa-dāna and śrāddha) with sincerity and according to one’s tradition, focusing on the intent to nourish and support the departed rather than mere formality.