Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 70
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
ग्रीवा स्कन्धौ द्वितीये च तृतीये हृदयं भवेत् / चतुर्थेन भवेत्पृष्ठं पञ्चमे नाभिरेव च
grīvā skandhau dvitīye ca tṛtīye hṛdayaṃ bhavet / caturthena bhavetpṛṣṭhaṃ pañcame nābhireva ca
दूसरे दिन के पिंड से गर्दन और कंधे, तीसरे से हृदय, चौथे से पीठ और पांचवें पिंड से नाभि का निर्माण होता है।
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Days 2–5 within the daśāhika sequence
Concept: Successive piṇḍas generate specific parts of the preta-body (neck/shoulders, heart, back, navel), showing ordered causality between rite and subtle embodiment.
Vedantic Theme: Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva within saṃsāra; the jīva’s experience depends on subtle embodiment shaped by karma and supportive rites.
Application: Maintain the day-by-day sequence without omission; treat each day’s offering as targeted support for the departed’s stabilization.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: domestic ritual ground
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.69 (head from first piṇḍa); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: continued limb formation from later piṇḍas (subsequent verses)
FAQs
This verse links specific pinda offerings with the gradual formation of bodily parts in the preta condition, presenting śrāddha as a supportive rite for the departed being’s post-death continuity.
It describes an intermediate post-death state in which the departed is supported through ritual offerings, with the subtle/preta body described as forming progressively—an idea used to frame the journey and needs of the departed in Preta Kanda teachings.
It emphasizes performing śrāddha and pinda-dana with care, intention, and proper guidance, while also encouraging ethical living so one’s post-death journey is supported by both conduct and ritual duty.