Shloka 74

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

प्रेताय पिण्डो दातव्यो भुक्तवत्सु द्विजातिषु / प्रश्रस्तत्राभिरण्येति यजमानद्विजन्मना

Transliteration

pretāya piṇḍo dātavyo bhuktavatsu dvijātiṣu / praśrastatrābhiraṇyeti yajamānadvijanmanā

Translation

A piṇḍa (funerary rice offering) should be given for the preta, in the presence of satisfied twice-born brāhmaṇas who have eaten. Then the yajamāna, himself twice-born, should pronounce the auspicious formula: “praśasta-tatra-abhi-raṇya.”

Word by Word

• प्रेताय: to the departed spirit
• प्रेताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• पिण्डः: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दातव्यः: should be given
• दातव्यः: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (Gerundive/obligatory, तव्यत्), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भुक्तवत्सु: among those who have eaten
• भुक्तवत्सु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (Past active participle, क्तवत्), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘द्विजातिषु’)

• द्विजातिषु: among the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (usage varies), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• प्रश्रस्तत्र: there/in the approved manner (per reading)
• प्रश्रस्तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative setting/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रश्रस्तत्र (अव्यय/पाठभेद)
• Form: अव्यय (as read in this pāṭha); पाठभेद-सूचक—सम्भवतः ‘प्रश्रस्तत्र’ = ‘प्रश्रस्तत्र’ (there, in the praised/approved place)

• अभिरण्य: ‘abhiraṇya’ (ritual utterance)
• अभिरण्य: Sambandha (Ritual utterance/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभिरण्य (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: मन्त्रपद/निगद (ritual formula element), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• यजमान: the sacrificer/patron
• यजमान: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज् (धातु) + शानच् (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (Present active participle, शानच्), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिकरूपेण (as stem) — in compound

• द्विजन्मना: by the twice-born person
• द्विजन्मना: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (द्विजन्मन्), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After brāhmaṇa-bhojana when the dvijas are ‘bhuktavat’ (satisfied).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa-dāna to the preta is an efficacious karmic act; proper witnesses (satisfied dvijas) and correct utterance (śubha-vākya) complete the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as subtle linkage between living and departed; śraddhā and vidhi align action with unseen results (adṛṣṭa).

Application: Offer piṇḍa after feeding brāhmaṇas; ensure they are satisfied; then recite the prescribed auspicious formula as per one’s prayoga.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/śrāddha venue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-support through piṇḍa and śrāddha; adjacent 2.5.75 on ‘akṣayyam’ formula

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Yajamana

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna for the preta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that offering a piṇḍa is a required rite for the preta, performed properly within a dharmic ritual setting, indicating structured support for the departed through prescribed offerings.

Why does the verse mention feeding the twice-born (dvija) before giving the piṇḍa?

It frames the rite as to be done in the presence of satisfied dvijas—suggesting the ritual purity, completion, and sanctification of the act through proper hospitality and śrāddha protocol.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha, follow an orderly, respectful procedure—ensure proper guidance, maintain reverence, and focus on the intention of supporting the departed while practicing generosity and dharma.