Shloka 143

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

वार्षिकं पिण्डदानादि भुक्त्वा तत्र प्रसर्पति / बहुभीतिकरं तत्तत् पिण्डजं देवमास्थितः

Transliteration

vārṣikaṃ piṇḍadānādi bhuktvā tatra prasarpati / bahubhītikaraṃ tattat piṇḍajaṃ devamāsthitaḥ

Translation

Having partaken of the annual śrāddha offerings—beginning with the piṇḍa-gifts—he then moves about there. Taking refuge in that piṇḍa-born divine support, he passes through those various, fear-producing conditions.

Word by Word

• वार्षिकम्: annual
• वार्षिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्षिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (piṇḍadānādi इत्यस्य)

• पिण्डदानादि: piṇḍa-offering and the like
• पिण्डदानादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड-दान-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + दान + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पिण्डदानं च आदिः च)

• भुक्त्वा: having consumed
• भुक्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having eaten/consumed’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• प्रसर्पति: crawls/creeps about
• प्रसर्पति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृप् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बहुभीतिकरम्: causing much fear
• बहुभीतिकरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-भीति-कर (प्रातिपदिक; बहु + भीति + कर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (तत्तत् इत्यस्य)

• तत्तत्: those various (things)
• तत्तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (that and that / various)

• पिण्डजम्: born of the piṇḍa (offering)
• पिण्डजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्ड-ज (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (देवम्)

• देवम्: a deity/spirit
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having resorted to
• आस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘having resorted to/entered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Annual (vāṛṣika/ābdika śrāddha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-piṇḍa as post-mortem sustenance and protection; the living’s ritual duty materially affects the preta’s passage.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of karma and saṃskāra across death; dharma as compassionate continuity; subtle-body support through ritual merit.

Application: Perform annual śrāddha with faith and correctness; ensure offerings are made in time, with purity and intention; support elders in maintaining ancestral rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: route/liminal passage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated statements that piṇḍa and udaka offerings become food/strength for the preta on the Yama-mārga; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa sections detailing annual rites and their fruits

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of annual śrāddha (vārṣika) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that the departed being ‘partakes’ of the yearly offerings; the vārṣika śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna are portrayed as real support that sustains the preta in its post-death condition.

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

It depicts the preta moving through frightening experiences, while being upheld by the ‘piṇḍa-born’ support—implying that proper rites provide continuity and aid during the unsettling transitional journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with sincerity and regularity (especially the annual rite), and cultivate gratitude and responsibility toward ancestors, seeing ritual duty as a form of compassionate support.