Shloka 117

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

ऊनषाण्मासिके क्रौञ्चे भुक्त्वा पिण्डन्तु सोदकम् / घटीमात्रन्तु विश्रम्य विचित्रनगरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

ūnaṣāṇmāsike krauñce bhuktvā piṇḍantu sodakam / ghaṭīmātrantu viśramya vicitranagaraṃ vrajet

Translation

At the station called Krauñca, connected with the rite performed before six months, having partaken of the piṇḍa offering together with water, the departed rests for only a ghaṭī; then he proceeds to the city named Vicitranagara.

Word by Word

• ūnaṣāṇmāsike: in the (place/period) of less-than-six-months (i.e., before six months)
• ūnaṣāṇmāsike: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūna-ṣaṇmāsika (प्रातिपदिक; ūna=अल्प/न्यून + ṣaṇmāsika=षण्माससम्बद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative qualifier)

• krauñce: in/at Krauñca (a place)
• krauñce: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krauñca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• piṇḍam: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• piṇḍam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• sodakam: with water
• sodakam: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-udaka (प्रातिपदिक; sa=सहित + udaka=जल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying piṇḍam)

• ghaṭīmātram: for just one ghaṭī (about 24 minutes)
• ghaṭīmātram: Kāla-adhikarana (Time extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭī-mātra (प्रातिपदिक; ghaṭī=घटी + mātra=मात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; कालपरिमाणवाचक (measure of time)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्ययम्; पुनरुक्त-विशेषार्थक

• viśramya: having rested
• viśramya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-śram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); विश्रान्तिं कृत्वा

• vicitranagaram: the city called Vicitranagara
• vicitranagaram: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicitra-nagara (प्रातिपदिक; vicitra=विचित्र + nagara=नगर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• vrajet: should go
• vrajet: Kriya (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: ūna-ṣaṇmāsika (before completion of six months) / linked to ṣaṇmāsika sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-mortem movement is structured; offerings by the living tangibly aid the departed during the preta-journey.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and subtle embodiment (preta-śarīra) persist until rites and merit mature; dependence on dharma for post-death welfare.

Application: Perform timely śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna (with udaka) at prescribed intervals; treat rites as compassionate duty to stabilize the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: way-station (adhvan-sthāna) and city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: sequential stations of the preta’s path; ṣaṇmāsika/ūna-ṣaṇmāsika śrāddha discussions; piṇḍa-udaka efficacy passages

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pinda
• Udaka
• Krauñca
• Vicitranagara

FAQs

What is the importance of the ūnaṣāṇmāsika rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the pre-six-month rite with tangible support to the departed: the preta is described as receiving (partaking of) the piṇḍa with water at a specific station, indicating the rite’s role in sustaining and enabling onward movement on the after-death path.

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

It presents the journey as a sequence of named stations: after receiving the offering at Krauñca, the preta rests briefly (one ghaṭī) and then travels onward to Vicitranagara, implying a structured progression influenced by rites performed by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related offerings with care—especially piṇḍa and udaka—remembering that the text frames them as acts of support and continuity for ancestors, reinforcing responsibility, gratitude, and disciplined ritual observance.