Shloka 112

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

ततः क्रूरपुर मासि पञ्चमे याति काश्यप / भुवि दत्तं पिण्डजलं भुक्त्वा क्रूरपुरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

tataḥ krūrapura māsi pañcame yāti kāśyapa / bhuvi dattaṃ piṇḍajalaṃ bhuktvā krūrapuraṃ vrajet

Translation

Then, O Kāśyapa, in the fifth month the departed soul goes to Krūrapura. Having partaken of the piṇḍa-offerings and water-libations given on earth, it proceeds onward to Krūrapura.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: 'तस्मात्/अनन्तरम्' (thereafter)

• क्रूरपुरम्: the cruel city (Krūrapura)
• क्रूरपुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूरपुर (प्रातिपदिक; क्रूर + पुर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (क्रूरं पुरम्)

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पञ्चमे: in the fifth
• पञ्चमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मासि)

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• काश्यप: Kāśyapa
• काश्यप: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे नाम (proper name)

• भुवि: on the earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दत्तम्: given, offered
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पिण्डजलम्)

• पिण्डजलम्: rice-ball and water (funeral offering)
• पिण्डजलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (पिण्डश्च जलं च)

• भुक्त्वा: having partaken
• भुक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) = having eaten/partaken

• क्रूरपुरम्: to Krūrapura
• क्रूरपुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूरपुर (प्रातिपदिक; क्रूर + पुर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra, addressed here as Kāśyapa)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Fifth month after death (as framed by the Pretakalpa itinerary)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The departed proceeds through fixed stages; support from śrāddha offerings sustains the journey, yet the onward movement is governed by karmic law.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃsāra’s compulsory momentum; the subtle being’s dependence on rites while still bound.

Application: Perform timely śrāddha with piṇḍa and water-libations for the departed; cultivate awareness that post-death passage is structured and consequential.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: pura (city/waystation) on the preta-mārga

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-mārga month-by-month progression; repeated emphasis on piṇḍodaka sustaining the preta; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: piṇḍa/udaka efficacy for pitṛs and pretas

Characters & Entities

• Kāśyapa (epithet/address for Garuda)
• Krūrapura

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-jala (piṇḍa and water offerings) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the departed partakes of the offerings made on earth and then continues its onward journey, indicating that śrāddha-style piṇḍa and water libations are considered supportive provisions for the preta’s post-death passage.

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

It gives a timed milestone—“in the fifth month”—and names a specific destination, Krūrapura, showing that the Garuda Purana presents the after-death route as a staged journey through distinct realms, influenced by rites performed by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Performing funerary rites with sincerity—especially piṇḍa-dāna and water offerings in remembrance—reinforces family dharma and the tradition’s intent of aiding the departed, while encouraging the living to act responsibly and ethically.