Shloka 37

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

चितापिण्ढप्रभृतितः प्रेतत्वमुपजायते / चितायां साधकं नाम वदन्त्येके खगेश्वर

Transliteration

citāpiṇḍhaprabhṛtitaḥ pretatvamupajāyate / citāyāṃ sādhakaṃ nāma vadantyeke khageśvara

Translation

ચિતા-ક્રિયા અને પિંડદાન શરૂ થતાં જ પ્રેતત્વ ઉપજે છે. હે ખગેશ્વર (ગરુડ)! કેટલાક કહે છે કે ચિતામાં તેને ‘સાધક’ અવસ્થા કહેવામાં આવે છે।

Word by Word

• चितापिण्डप्रभृतितः: from/starting with the pyre-lump
• चितापिण्डप्रभृतितः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ; समासः: (चितापिण्डात्) प्रभृति = ‘starting from the funeral-pyre lump’

• प्रेतत्वम्: the state of being a preta
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रेत + त्व) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उपजायते: arises/comes into being
• उपजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• चितायाम्: on/in the funeral pyre
• चितायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• साधकम्: (as) ‘sādhaka’
• साधकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘नाम’ इत्यनेन सह कर्मपद

• नाम: by name/called
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः, संज्ञासूचक-अव्यय (quotative/‘called’)

• वदन्ति: they say/call
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एके: some (people)
• एके: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: From the commencement of the pyre/offerings; specifically ‘on the pyre’ is highlighted

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A defined transitional identity (preta / ‘sādhaka’) is recognized from the commencement of pyre and piṇḍa-related actions, indicating karma-bound continuity beyond bodily death.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity (liṅga-śarīra) and liminal states; nāma-rūpa shifts while the witnessing principle remains untouched (implied).

Application: Treat the immediate post-death period as ritually consequential; begin prescribed offerings and protections promptly, acknowledging the deceased’s transitional status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground (śmaśāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.38 on authorities calling it ‘preta’; Garuda Purana 2.15.40 on timing of piṇḍas during departure/halfway/pyre

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Chita (funeral pyre)
• Pinda (funeral offering)

FAQs

What is the importance of the preta state in Garuda Purana?

This verse marks the onset of pretatva as beginning with the cremation context (chitā) and related offerings (piṇḍa), framing why post-death rites are treated as time-sensitive and spiritually consequential.

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

It indicates a transition: as soon as cremation rites commence, the departed is described in a preta-related condition, with some traditions naming an intermediate designation (‘sādhaka’) connected specifically with the pyre stage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites and associated offerings with care and timeliness, understanding them as supporting the departed through an immediate transitional phase described in the text.