Shloka 107

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

तृतीयमासिकं पिण्डं तत्र भुक्त्वा ब्रजत्यसौ / व्रजन्नेवं विलपते तदग्रेणाहतः पथि

Transliteration

tṛtīyamāsikaṃ piṇḍaṃ tatra bhuktvā brajatyasau / vrajannevaṃ vilapate tadagreṇāhataḥ pathi

Translation

Having consumed there the third monthly piṇḍa offering, he proceeds onward. As he goes, he laments in this way, being struck on the road by those who are in front of him.

Word by Word

• तृतीयमासिकम्: third-monthly
• तृतीयमासिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय + मासिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (third-monthly)

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there)

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having eaten)

• ब्रजति: goes
• ब्रजति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• असौ: that person (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्रजन्: going
• व्रजन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (going)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thus)

• विलपते: laments
• विलपते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तदग्रेण: by what is ahead/preceding
• तदग्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करणवाचक (by/with what is in front/preceding)

• आहतः: struck, beaten
• आहतः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (struck)

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Third month after death (tṛtīya-māsika)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-mortem experience is shaped by prior deeds; offerings from the living provide temporary support but do not erase one’s karmic momentum.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the jīva’s continuity after death under niyati (cosmic order).

Application: Perform regular śrāddha/piṇḍa for ancestors; cultivate dharma in life so the journey after death is not marked by fear and coercion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: path/route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: monthly piṇḍa/śrāddha sequence and preta’s road (nearby verses in 2.5); Garuda Purana: Yama-dūta driven journey motifs across Pretakalpa chapters

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pinda (piṇḍa)
• Departed soul

FAQs

What is the importance of the third monthly piṇḍa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the departed being (preta) “partakes” of the third monthly piṇḍa and then continues the onward journey, showing the māsika piṇḍa as nourishment/support during the post-death passage.

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

It depicts the preta moving along a difficult road, lamenting and even being struck on the way—indicating hardship and vulnerability during the transitional journey, alongside dependence on ritual offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages timely śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna observance for ancestors and reminds the living to uphold dharma and compassion, recognizing the tradition’s emphasis on supporting the departed through prescribed rites.