Shloka 36

Devanagari script

प्रेतस्यैव विलुण्ठन्ति मध्ये मार्गे बुभुक्षिताः / मासान्ते भोजनं पिण्डमेके यच्छन्ति तत्र वै

Transliteration

pretasyaiva viluṇṭhanti madhye mārge bubhukṣitāḥ / māsānte bhojanaṃ piṇḍameke yacchanti tatra vai

Translation

On the very road of the after-death journey, the hungry plunder the preta (departed spirit). Only at the end of the month do some provide him there a food-offering in the form of a piṇḍa.

Word by Word

• प्रेतस्य: of the departed spirit
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive singular masculine

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• विलुण्ठन्ति: plunder/rob
• विलुण्ठन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लुण्ठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; present indicative 3rd pl

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular neuter

• मार्गे: on the path
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular masculine

• बुभुक्षिताः: hungry (ones)
• बुभुक्षिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + सन् (desiderative) → बुभुक्ष् (धातु) + क्त → बुभुक्षित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural masculine; used substantively

• मासान्ते: at the end of the month
• मासान्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular masculine (time)

• भोजनम्: food/meal
• भोजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक); < भुज् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

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

• एके: some (of them)
• एके: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural masculine; used as pronoun-like 'some'

• यच्छन्ति: give
• यच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यम् (धातु) (दाने)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; present indicative 3rd pl

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Month-end (māsānte)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without timely ritual support, the preta suffers deprivation and interference; monthly piṇḍa provides crucial sustenance.

Vedantic Theme: Liminal suffering as fruit of karma and neglect; ritual duty as compassionate dharma within saṃsāra.

Application: Perform timely piṇḍa-dāna and related rites (especially monthly/ekoddiṣṭa sequence) to support the departed; combine with charity to the hungry.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: transit route between death and Yamaloka/next state

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: preta’s 10/12-day journey motifs; śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna benefits described in śrāddha-kāṇḍa sections

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pinda
• Path of the soul

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that the preta suffers hunger and vulnerability on the journey; piṇḍa offered by the living functions as a vital food-support, reducing distress and aiding the onward passage.

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

It depicts the preta traveling a difficult route where hunger-afflicted beings may harass or “plunder” him, implying that the post-death path is not merely symbolic but a state of real deprivation unless supported by prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa offerings with sincerity and timely discipline, and cultivate compassion through feeding the needy—actions aligned with supporting the departed and reducing harm caused by neglect.