Shloka 61

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

पूर्वोक्तैः पञ्चभिः पिण्डैः शवस्याहुतियोग्यता / अन्यथा चोपघाताच्च राक्षसाद्या भवन्ति हि

Transliteration

pūrvoktaiḥ pañcabhiḥ piṇḍaiḥ śavasyāhutiyogyatā / anyathā copaghātācca rākṣasādyā bhavanti hi

Translation

By the five piṇḍas described earlier, the corpse becomes fit to receive the funeral offerings. Otherwise, through neglect and injury to the rite, it indeed turns into beings such as rākṣasas and the like.

Word by Word

• pūrva-uktaiḥ: with the previously mentioned
• pūrva-uktaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac- वच्, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पूर्वं उक्ताः) विशेषण

• pañcabhiḥ: with five
• pañcabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (piṇḍaiḥ-विशेषण)

• piṇḍaiḥ: with piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• piṇḍaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• śavasya: of the corpse
• śavasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• āhuti-yogyatā: fitness for offering (as āhuti)
• āhuti-yogyatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhuti (प्रातिपदिक) + yogyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आहुतेः योग्यता)

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (otherwise)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• upaghātāt: from harm/obstruction
• upaghātāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• rākṣasa-ādyāḥ: rakṣasas and the like
• rākṣasa-ādyāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राक्षसः आदिः येषाम्)

• bhavanti: become
• bhavanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/हेतुवाचक निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Early death-rite stage where the five piṇḍas are offered to qualify the śava/preta for subsequent offerings.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper performance of the five piṇḍas confers eligibility for offerings; negligence (upaghāta) yields adverse transformations and harmful states.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala immediacy in saṃskāra: omissions and ritual injury produce tangible negative consequences; dharma protects from disorder (adharma).

Application: Do not omit or damage the prescribed five piṇḍas; ensure continuity and correctness to avoid ‘upaghāta’ (ritual break/defect).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: antyeṣṭi/śrāddha ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (earlier description of the five piṇḍas; consequences of defects in preta rites)

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What is the importance of the five piṇḍas in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the five piṇḍas make the deceased fit to receive āhutis (ritual offerings); they are treated as essential steps in properly completing the post-death rites.

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

It implies that correct ritual support (piṇḍa offerings) stabilizes the post-death transition; neglect or flawed rites can lead to an inauspicious condition symbolized as becoming rākṣasa-like.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites and śrāddha-related observances carefully and respectfully (ideally with qualified guidance), emphasizing sincerity and completeness rather than omission or haste.