Shloka 39

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

इत्येवं पञ्चभिः पिण्डैः शवस्याहुतियोग्यता / अन्यथा चोपघाताय पूर्वोक्तास्ते भवन्ति हि

Transliteration

ityevaṃ pañcabhiḥ piṇḍaiḥ śavasyāhutiyogyatā / anyathā copaghātāya pūrvoktāste bhavanti hi

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ അഞ്ചു പിണ്ഡങ്ങളാൽ ശവം ആഹുതികൾ സ്വീകരിക്കാൻ യോഗ്യമാകുന്നു; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മുമ്പ് പറഞ്ഞ കർമങ്ങൾ തന്നെ നിശ്ചയമായും ഉപഘാതം, അഥവാ ഹാനി, വരുത്തും।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative: ‘thus’)

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in this manner)

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (पिण्डैः इत्यस्य विशेषण) तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग

• पिण्डैः: with piṇḍa offerings (rice-balls)
• पिण्डैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• शवस्य: of the corpse
• शवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आहुतियोग्यता: fitness for oblation
• आहुतियोग्यता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहुति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आहुतेः योग्यता)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (otherwise)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• उपघाताय: for harm/obstruction
• उपघाताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (dative of purpose)

• पूर्वोक्ताः: previously mentioned
• पूर्वोक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + उक्त (√वच्/√वद्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे विशेषण (previously mentioned)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुबोधक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the antyeṣṭi/early preta period, with five piṇḍas as a defined set

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual causality: prescribed piṇḍa sequence establishes yogyatā; deviation produces upaghāta (harmful consequence).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa causality and niyama: right action yields order; wrong action yields disturbance—discipline as a means to reduce suffering.

Application: Ensure the complete set of prescribed piṇḍas is performed; consult competent officiants; avoid omissions driven by haste, fear, or cost-cutting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-process (antyeṣṭi sequence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.40 (details of piṇḍa timings); Garuda Purana 2.15.37–38 (preta designation during these rites)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering five piṇḍas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the five piṇḍas make the deceased fit to receive ritual offerings; they are presented as a necessary step in the post-death rites.

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

It implies that correct piṇḍa-related rites support the departed’s post-death condition; without proper eligibility for offerings, the intended support can turn obstructive or harmful within the preta-state framework described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna carefully and respectfully according to tradition and competent guidance, emphasizing sincerity and correctness rather than haste or negligence.