Shloka 63

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

तदभावे च शिष्येण तदभावे सहोदरः / श्मशाने चान्यतीर्थे वा जलं पिण्डं च दापयेत्

Transliteration

tadabhāve ca śiṣyeṇa tadabhāve sahodaraḥ / śmaśāne cānyatīrthe vā jalaṃ piṇḍaṃ ca dāpayet

Translation

Si l’officiant légitime fait défaut, que le disciple l’accomplisse ; et si le disciple manque aussi, qu’un frère de même sang le fasse. Que ce soit au lieu de crémation (śmaśāna) ou en un autre gué sacré (tīrtha), on doit faire offrir l’eau et les piṇḍa.

Word by Word

• तद्: of that (person)
• तद्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे एकवचन (in ‘tad-abhāve’)

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Nimitta (Condition/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in absence’

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

• शिष्येण: by a disciple
• शिष्येण: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तद्: of that (disciple)
• तद्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे एकवचन (in ‘tad-abhāve’)

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Nimitta (Condition/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहोदरः: a brother (uterine)
• सहोदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सह + उदर: ‘sharing the same womb’)

• श्मशाने: in the cremation-ground
• श्मशाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अन्यतीर्थे: at another sacred place
• अन्यतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘other’ + ‘holy place’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

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

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

• दापयेत्: should have (them) given/offered
• दापयेत्: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) (णिच् causative: दापय)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य (optative/vidhi), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative—‘should cause to be given’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the ten-day preta rites (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: अधिकार-क्रम: son → disciple → brother; and स्थान-लचीलापन: śmaśāna or tīrtha both valid for udaka and piṇḍa offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order through adaptable means (upāya) while preserving intent (saṅkalpa).

Application: If the primary performer is unavailable, appoint the next eligible person; if the cremation site is inaccessible, perform at a reputable tīrtha with proper dedication.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground / tīrtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of adhikārins for śrāddha/antyeṣṭi in surrounding verses; Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas supporting efficacy of rites at sacred waters

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of pinda-dana and water offering in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes continuity of the departed’s rites: even if the primary performer is unavailable, an authorized substitute should ensure udaka (water) and piṇḍa offerings are made, supporting the preta-related obligations.

Who can perform the rites if the main eligible person is not available?

According to this verse, if the primary person is absent, the disciple may perform; if the disciple is also absent, a brother (sahodara) can arrange the water and piṇḍa offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a family is unable to perform rites personally, they should still ensure the essential offerings are properly arranged through an eligible proxy (such as a close kin or authorized disciple), maintaining dharmic responsibility toward the departed.