Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 18

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

भूमावसंस्कृतानां च संस्कृतानां कुशेषु च / नवभिर्दिवसैः पिण्डान्नव दद्यात्समाहितः

Transliteration

bhūmāvasaṃskṛtānāṃ ca saṃskṛtānāṃ kuśeṣu ca / navabhirdivasaiḥ piṇḍānnava dadyātsamāhitaḥ

Translation

未だ儀礼の浄めを受けぬ供物は裸地に置き、正しく浄化・加持されたものはクシャ草の上に置くべきである。心を統一し、九日間にわたり九つのピṇḍaを供えよ。

Word by Word

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• असंस्कृतानाम्: of the unprepared/unsanctified (ones)
• असंस्कृतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + संस्कृत (कृदन्त; सम्+कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• संस्कृतानाम्: of the prepared/sanctified (ones)
• संस्कृतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (कृदन्त; सम्+कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषण

• कुशेषु: on/among kuśa-grass (seats)
• कुशेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सङ्ख्यावाचक) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• दिवसैः: days
• दिवसैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नव (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral used indeclinably)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• समाहितः: composed/attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त; सम्+आ+धा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषण

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Nine piṇḍas over nine days (navāha) within the preta-rite sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity is graded; the medium (earth vs kuśa) must match the saṃskāra-status of the offering; disciplined repetition over prescribed days matters.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as structured discipline; external order supports internal steadiness (sattva).

Application: Track the rite day-by-day; keep offerings consistent with their consecration status; use kuśa appropriately; maintain composure throughout the observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground (bhūmi) and kuśa-bed

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.5.17 (placement/orientation); Garuda Purana 2.5.19–21 (ten-day completion, purity, substances, daily measure)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of nine-day piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes offering nine piṇḍas across nine days, indicating a structured early-period rite meant to support the departed’s transitional state (preta) through consistent daily offerings.

Why does the verse mention placing offerings on earth versus on kuśa grass?

It distinguishes between offerings that are not ritually sanctified (placed directly on the ground) and those properly consecrated (placed on kuśa), reflecting purity rules and correct ritual handling in śrāddha contexts.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Maintain ritual clarity and mental focus: perform memorial offerings with proper preparation (saṁskāra) and attentiveness (samāhita), following a consistent schedule rather than treating rites casually.