Shloka 30

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

कार्यन्तु षोडशी षड्भिः पिण्डैर्दशभिरैव च / प्रथमा मलिना ह्येतैरादशाहं मृतेर्भवेत्

Transliteration

kāryantu ṣoḍaśī ṣaḍbhiḥ piṇḍairdaśabhiraiva ca / prathamā malinā hyetairādaśāhaṃ mṛterbhavet

Translation

The sixteenth-day rite (ṣoḍaśī) should be performed with six piṇḍas, and likewise the sequence with ten piṇḍas as well. By these prescribed piṇḍas and offerings, the first set removes impurity; thus the ten-day period after death (ādaśāha) is duly fulfilled.

Word by Word

कार्याshould be done

तुindeed/but

षोडशीthe ṣoḍaśī (sixteenfold rite)

षड्भिःwith six

पिण्डैःpiṇḍa-balls

दशभिःwith ten

एवonly/indeed

चand

प्रथमाthe first (rite/day)

मलिनाimpure/defiled

हिfor/indeed

एतैःby these

आदशाहम्the ten-day period

मृतेःof death/of the deceased’s death

भवेत्would be/should be

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ṣoḍaśī (16th day) and the ten-day (ādaśāha/daśāha) completion framework

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prescribed piṇḍa counts for ṣoḍaśī and ten-day rites; ritual removes mala (impurity) and completes ādaśāha.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as orderly discipline leading to citta-śuddhi; recognition of death’s transition managed through saṃskāra.

Application: Perform ṣoḍaśī with six piṇḍas as stated; observe the ten-day sequence with the prescribed piṇḍa pattern to conclude aśauca properly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household śrāddha space / ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.5: daśāha and ṣoḍaśī procedural verses around 2.5.30; Garuda Purana: sapiṇḍīkaraṇa and ekoddiṣṭa/parvaṇa transitions in later ritual sections (thematic)

Characters & Entities

Pretas

Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna and the ṣoḍaśī rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific counts of piṇḍa offerings (six for the ṣoḍaśī and a ten-fold sequence) with completing the post-death observances and addressing ritual impurity, framing piṇḍa-dāna as a structured duty for the deceased’s transition.

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

By emphasizing the ten-day (ādaśāha) framework and prescribed offerings, the verse implies that orderly rites support the preta’s post-death passage and the family’s ritual restoration, aligning the transition with dharmic procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow one’s family śrāddha tradition under a qualified priest, focusing on sincerity, cleanliness, and prescribed timing—using the rites as a disciplined way to honor the departed and maintain dharmic responsibility.