Shloka 8

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

सेतु (एवं) सामादिसूक्तैस्तु मरणं मुक्तिदायकम् / शलाकास्वर्णविक्षपैः प्रतप्राणिगृहेषुच

Transliteration

setu (evaṃ) sāmādisūktaistu maraṇaṃ muktidāyakam / śalākāsvarṇavikṣapaiḥ prataprāṇigṛheṣuca

Translation

Thus the ‘setu’, the bridge of passage, is established: by reciting the Sāman and other sacred hymns, even death becomes a giver of liberation; and likewise by distributing gold and small ritual gifts in the homes of the living.

Word by Word

• सेतु: a bridge; means
• सेतु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• सामादिसूक्तैः: with Sāma etc. hymns
• सामादिसूक्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामादिसूक्त (प्रातिपदिक; साम + आदि + सूक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (साम-आदि-स्वरूपाणि सूक्तानि)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• मुक्तिदायकम्: granting liberation
• मुक्तिदायकम्: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्तिदायक (प्रातिपदिक; मुक्ति + दायक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मरण-विशेषण); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तेः दायकम्)

• शलाकास्वर्णविक्षपैः: with needles, gold, and scatterings/offerings
• शलाकास्वर्णविक्षपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलाका-स्वर्ण-विक्षप (प्रातिपदिक; शलाका + स्वर्ण + विक्षप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्वप्रायः), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (शलाकाश्च स्वर्णं च विक्षपाश्च)

• प्रतप्राणिगृहेषु: in each living being's house
• प्रतप्राणिगृहेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतप्राणिगृह (प्रातिपदिक; प्रत + प्राणि + गृह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रति प्राणिनां गृहेषु)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (departed individual)

Timing: Around the time of death and immediately after, as supportive rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra (Sāman and allied sūktas) and dāna can render death a means toward liberation; merit is amplified through giving to the living.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/śabda as upāya (sound as means) and īśvara-prasāda mediated through sattvic acts; karma purified into mokṣa-oriented momentum.

Application: Recite Sāman and other sacred hymns near the dying/deceased; distribute gold/ritual gifts (śalākā-like small offerings) to households/people as dāna connected to the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space + village/household network

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on nāma-saṅkīrtana/mantra at death and the power of dāna for preta-gati; Garuda Purana descriptions of ‘setu’/passage aids (ritual supports for the soul’s journey)

Characters & Entities

• Sāman (Sāma Veda)

FAQs

What is the importance of Sāma-ādi sūktas (Sāma Veda hymns) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse presents sacred hymn-recitation—especially Sāman chants—as a spiritual ‘setu’ (bridge) that supports the departed and can orient the passage through death toward liberation.

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

It frames death not only as an end but as a crossing: mantra (sūkta) and dāna (gift-giving) function as aids that create a ‘bridge’ for the soul’s onward journey and higher outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform sincere mantra recitation during last rites and accompany it with charitable giving (especially meaningful, need-based dāna), dedicating the merit for the departed’s peace and upliftment.