Shloka 51

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

पिशाचत्वं स्थिरं तस्य दत्तैः श्राद्धशतैरपि / एकादशे द्वादशे वा दिने आद्यं प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

piśācatvaṃ sthiraṃ tasya dattaiḥ śrāddhaśatairapi / ekādaśe dvādaśe vā dine ādyaṃ prakīrtitam

Translation

Même si l’on accomplit pour lui des centaines de śrāddhas, son état de piśāca demeure fixé. Le premier rite prescrit est déclaré pour le onzième jour, ou bien pour le douzième.

Word by Word

• पिशाचत्वम्: state of being a piśāca (ghoulhood)
• पिशाचत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाचत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थिरम्: firm; lasting
• स्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पिशाचत्वम्)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• दत्तैः: by (offerings) given
• दत्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) used adjectivally; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘by/with (things) given’

• श्राद्धशतैः: by hundreds of śrāddhas
• श्राद्धशतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध+शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (श्राद्धानां शतानि) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even/also)

• एकादशे: on the eleventh (day)
• एकादशे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• द्वादशे: on the twelfth (day)
• द्वादशे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ (or)

• दिने: on the day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• आद्यम्: the first (one)
• आद्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विषय/विधेय (what is declared)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘has been proclaimed’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: First prescribed rite on the 11th or 12th day.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect or mis-sequencing of prescribed rites can fix an adverse post-death state (piśācatva); correct initiation on 11th/12th day is pivotal.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃskāra efficacy: timely rites shape the jīva’s subtle trajectory; negligence (pramāda) has enduring consequences.

Application: Prioritize the first prescribed rite on the 11th or 12th day; do not assume that later quantity (hundreds of śrāddhas) compensates for missing the foundational step.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.5 (importance of early-day rites; consequences of omission; preta/piśāca states)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris
• Pisachas

FAQs

What is the importance of the 11th or 12th day in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that the primary/initial prescribed step is specifically taught for the 11th or 12th day, indicating a key timing marker in the post-death ritual sequence.

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

It implies that a troubling intermediate condition (piśācatva) can remain “fixed” despite many offerings, emphasizing that correct sequencing and timing of rites—not mere quantity—matters in stabilizing the departed being’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow established śrāddha procedures with proper timing (traditionally guided by family priests/ācāryas) rather than assuming that repeating rites in large numbers alone will resolve post-death ritual obligations.