Shloka 62

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

तावद्वृद्धिश्च कर्तव्या यावत्पिण्डं दशाहिकम् / पुत्त्रेण हि क्रिया कार्या भार्यया तदभावतः

Transliteration

tāvadvṛddhiśca kartavyā yāvatpiṇḍaṃ daśāhikam / puttreṇa hi kriyā kāryā bhāryayā tadabhāvataḥ

Translation

Les observances et dispositions prescrites doivent être maintenues jusqu’à l’achèvement du rite des piṇḍa sur dix jours. En vérité, les rites funéraires et posthumes doivent être accomplis par le fils ; à défaut, par l’épouse.

Word by Word

• तावत्: so long
• तावत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb: ‘so long/that much’)

• वृद्धिः: increase/augmentation (of offerings)
• वृद्धिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

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

• कर्तव्या: should be done
• कर्तव्या: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Limit/पर्यन्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative: ‘as long as/until’)

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa (rice-ball offering)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• दशाहिकम्: pertaining to the ten-day rite
• दशाहिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशाहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् पिण्डम्; समास/निर्माणः—दशाह + इक (ten-day related)

• पुत्त्रेण: by the son
• पुत्त्रेण: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• क्रिया: rite, ritual act
• क्रिया: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कार्या: should be performed
• कार्या: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be performed’

• भार्यया: by the wife
• भार्यया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तद्: of that (son)
• तद्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (genitive relation) एकवचन; ‘of that (son)’—समासपूर्वपदत्वे

• अभावतः: in the absence (thereof)
• अभावतः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Separation/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; ‘in absence of’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Until completion of the ten-day piṇḍa sequence (दशाहिक)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: कर्तृत्व-नियम: the son is primary adhikārin for post-death rites; wife acts in his absence; observances continue until the दशाह piṇḍa is complete.

Vedantic Theme: स्वधर्म and adhikāra: right performance by the proper agent sustains cosmic and familial order.

Application: Ensure the ten-day rite is not interrupted; designate the eligible performer (son; otherwise wife) and maintain required observances/arrangements until completion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual observance period (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: adhikārin hierarchy for śrāddha/antyeṣṭi in nearby verses; Garuda Purana: पुत्र-कर्तव्य emphasis in śrāddha sections

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of the ten-day (daśāha) piṇḍa rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the ten-day piṇḍa offerings as a key boundary for post-death observances—rites are to be maintained until the daśāha piṇḍa is completed, indicating its central role in the immediate post-death ritual sequence.

Who is authorized to perform the post-death rites according to this verse?

Primarily the son performs the kriyā (funerary and related rites); if the son is absent or unavailable, the wife is stated as the performer.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ensure the ten-day ritual period is completed with continuity and responsibility: the closest eligible family member (son, or in his absence the wife) should arrange and complete the prescribed rites with care and dharmic intention.