Shloka 12

The Destiny of Those Who Die Through Fasting & the Procedure of Udakumbha-dāna

Devanagari script

एकादशाहात्प्रभृति देयो नित्यं दृढाह्वयः / पक्वान्नजलपूर्णो हि यावत् संवत्सरं दिनम्

Transliteration

ekādaśāhātprabhṛti deyo nityaṃ dṛḍhāhvayaḥ / pakvānnajalapūrṇo hi yāvat saṃvatsaraṃ dinam

Translation

From the eleventh day onward, one should give daily the offering called Dṛḍhāhvaya—consisting of cooked food and water—continuing each day for a full year.

Word by Word

• ekādaśāhāt: from the eleventh day
• ekādaśāhāt: Apadana (Source/Time limit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• prabhṛti: starting from
• prabhṛti: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prabhṛti (प्रभृति)
• Form: Adverb (governs Ablative)

• deyaḥ: to be given
• deyaḥ: Vidheya-visheshana (Predicative Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (दा)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Gerundive)

• nityam: daily/always
• nityam: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb

• dṛḍhāhvayaḥ: pot named 'Dridha' (firm)
• dṛḍhāhvayaḥ: Karma (Object - Passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛḍhāhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pakvānnajalapūrṇaḥ: filled with cooked food and water
• pakvānnajalapūrṇaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pakvānnajalapūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle

• yāvat: as long as / until
• yāvat: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (यावत्)
• Form: Adverb

• saṃvatsaram: for a year
• saṃvatsaram: Kala-adhikarana (Duration of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dinam: day (every day)
• dinam: Kala-adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: From the 11th day through one full year (daily)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: From the eleventh day, a daily offering (Dṛḍhāhvaya) of cooked food and water should be maintained for a full year.

Vedantic Theme: Nitya-karma and saṃskāra as mind-purifiers; steadfast duty (dhṛti) supporting both departed and living.

Application: Establish a sustainable daily memorial offering/charity routine (food and water), maintaining consistency rather than sporadic intensity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household daily rite space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: post-11th day preta rites; annual completion markers; daily anna-jala offerings

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of the eleventh-day onward offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a sustained, daily post-death observance beginning on the 11th day, indicating that support through food-and-water offerings is to be continued regularly up to one year as part of preta-kritya.

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

By mandating daily offerings for a year, the verse implies an extended transitional period for the departed (preta-stage), during which ritual support is considered beneficial and dharmically required.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following tradition, maintain disciplined remembrance and prescribed śrāddha-style giving (food/water/charity) after the 11th day; ethically, it reinforces consistency, gratitude to ancestors, and regular acts of giving.