Shloka 69

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

पञ्चमे सप्तमे तद्वदष्टमे नवमे तथा / दशमैकादशे चैव नव श्राद्धानि वै खग

Transliteration

pañcame saptame tadvadaṣṭame navame tathā / daśamaikādaśe caiva nava śrāddhāni vai khaga

Translation

On the fifth and seventh days, likewise on the eighth and ninth, and also on the tenth and eleventh—thus, O Bird (Garuda), there are nine śrāddha rites to be performed.

Word by Word

• पञ्चमे: on the fifth
• पञ्चमे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (on the fifth [day])

• सप्तमे: on the seventh
• सप्तमे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तुल्यवाचक)
• Form: तुल्यवाचक-अव्यय (likewise/in the same way)

• अष्टमे: on the eighth
• अष्टमे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• नवमे: on the ninth
• नवमे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• तथा: also/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thus/also)

• दशमैकादशे: on the tenth and eleventh
• दशमैकादशे: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशम-एकादश (प्रातिपदिक; दशम + एकादश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (दशमे च एकादशे च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Kriya-visheshana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with श्राद्धानि)

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Kriya-visheshana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• खग: O bird
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: On the 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th days (as part of the nine-śrāddha sequence).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Enumeration of the navāśrāddha days: 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th (within the nine-rite framework).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga in household life: disciplined observance of rites as offering and responsibility, cultivating equanimity amid impermanence.

Application: Maintain an accurate day-count from death and perform the specified śrāddhas on the enjoined days without negligence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: temporal (day-count) rather than spatial

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: navāśrāddha day-listing and variants (2.5.67–71)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the nine śrāddhas mentioned in Garuda Purana?

This verse outlines a prescribed sequence of śrāddha observances on specific days after death, emphasizing timely offerings as part of the preta-related rites.

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

By specifying day-based śrāddha performance, the text frames ritual support for the departed during the immediate post-death period associated with the preta condition and transitional journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional rites, consult a qualified priest/family tradition to observe the śrāddha days responsibly; the takeaway is disciplined, timely remembrance and duty (dharma) toward ancestors.