Shloka 55

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

अस्थिरत्वाच्छरीरस्य द्वादशाहे प्रशस्यते / सपिण्डीकरणेष्वेवं विधिं पक्षीन्द्र मे शृणु

Transliteration

asthiratvāccharīrasya dvādaśāhe praśasyate / sapiṇḍīkaraṇeṣvevaṃ vidhiṃ pakṣīndra me śṛṇu

Translation

Because the body’s condition is unstable in the days after death, the twelve‑day period is regarded as appropriate. Therefore, O king of birds, listen as I explain this procedure for the sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa rites.

Word by Word

• अस्थिरत्वात्: due to instability
• अस्थिरत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

• शरीरस्य: of the body
• शरीरस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• द्वादशाहे: on the twelfth-day period
• द्वादशाहे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/recommended
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is praised/considered commendable)

• सपिण्डीकरणेषु: in the sapindīkaraṇa rites
• सपिण्डीकरणेषु: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—सपिण्डी-करण (सपिण्डीकरणम्)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• विधिम्: procedure/rule
• विधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पक्षीन्द्र: O lord of birds
• पक्षीन्द्र: Address (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—पक्षि-इन्द्र (पक्षिणाम् इन्द्रः) = Genitive Tatpurusha

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Dvādaśāha (twelve-day period) is praised as appropriate; serves as the temporal basis for explaining/undertaking sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa procedure.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dvādaśāha is praised as appropriate due to the body’s instability; sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa procedure follows accordingly.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment is unstable and transient; dharma provides structured rites to navigate liminal transitions and uphold cosmic/social order.

Application: Observe the twelve-day post-death ritual framework with seriousness; use it as a structured period for family discipline, remembrance, and correct performance of subsequent rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.5.54 (12th/13th timing rationale); Garuda Purana 2.5.56 (ekoddiṣṭa method and vessels)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Pakshindra)

FAQs

What is the importance of the twelve-day period in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that due to the body’s unstable condition after death, the twelve-day span is considered the proper window for key post-death observances leading up to rites like sapīṇḍīkaraṇa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By emphasizing the transitional instability immediately after death, the verse sets the ritual context: prescribed rites are performed in a defined sequence so the departed moves from the liminal preta-condition toward ancestral integration (Pitṛ status) through sapīṇḍīkaraṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat post-death rites as time-sensitive and intentional: follow the traditional sequence with sincerity, remembering the teaching of impermanence and using the period to practice dharma, remembrance, and respectful ancestral offerings.