Shloka 29

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

यमाय त्वाष्टमे ज्ञेयं यज्जग्रन्नवमे तथा / तशमे याः फलिनीति पिण्डे चैकादशे ततः

Transliteration

yamāya tvāṣṭame jñeyaṃ yajjagrannavame tathā / taśame yāḥ phalinīti piṇḍe caikādaśe tataḥ

Translation

Sache que la huitième offrande doit être dédiée à Yama ; de même, la neuvième doit être faite avec une vigilance éveillée. La dixième est afin que (pour le défunt) elle devienne « porteuse de fruit », c’est-à-dire qu’elle produise son résultat ; puis, la onzième est le piṇḍa (boule de riz offerte).

Word by Word

• yamāya: For Yama (Mantra)
• yamāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (यम)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular. (Refers to mantra 'yamāya somam...')

• tu: But/Indeed
• tu: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु)
• Form: Conjunction/Particle

• aṣṭame: On the eighth (day)
• aṣṭame: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭama (अष्टम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• jñeyam: Should be known/understood
• jñeyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा)
• Form: Gerundive (Yat pratyaya), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• yat-jāgrat: The 'Yajjagrat' mantra
• yat-jāgrat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat-jāgrat (यज्जाग्रत्)
• Form: Mantra reference (yajjāgrato dūram...)

• navame: On the ninth (day)
• navame: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navama (नवम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tathā: Similarly/Also
• tathā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा)
• Form: Adverb

• daśame: On the tenth (day)
• daśame: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśama (दशम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. (Corrected from 'taśame')

• yāḥ-phalinīḥ: The 'Yah Phalini' mantra
• yāḥ-phalinīḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāḥ-phalinī (याः फलिनी)
• Form: Mantra reference (yāḥ phalinīr yā aphala...)

• iti: Thus
• iti: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle (End of quote/list)

• piṇḍe: Regarding the Pinda (rice ball)
• piṇḍe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (पिण्ड)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• ekādaśe: On the eleventh (day)
• ekādaśe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (एकादश)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tataḥ: Then/Thereafter
• tataḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततस्)
• Form: Adverb (Ablative suffix)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Eighth through eleventh steps/offerings in the day-wise śrāddha sequence (8th to Yama; 11th as piṇḍa).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Offerings are karmically ‘fruit-bearing’ when correctly dedicated; Yama dedication acknowledges moral causality and orderly transition for the preta/pitṛ.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati under īśvara; ritual as a means to secure orderly results within saṃsāra.

Application: Perform the specified dedication (especially to Yama) with attentiveness; avoid negligence during transitional rites; complete the sequence through piṇḍa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-cosmological reference

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama-related dedications and piṇḍa-krama in 2.40

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of dedicating an offering to Yama in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse specifies a ritual sequence where the eighth offering is directed to Yama, emphasizing Yama’s role as the cosmic judge and regulator of the departed soul’s post-death passage.

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

By outlining numbered ritual steps (eighth through eleventh), it implies that the preta’s journey is supported by orderly rites—some directed to Yama and culminating in the piṇḍa offering that is understood to aid the departed in the transitional state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow śrāddha/preta-karma with careful sequencing and intention—performing offerings mindfully (with ‘wakeful vigilance’) and not treating piṇḍa-dāna as a casual act, but as a disciplined duty (dharma) toward ancestors and the departed.