Shloka 28

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

दशाहकर्मक्रियया कुटी निष्पाद्यते ध्रुवम् / नवकैः षोडशश्राद्धैः प्रयाति हि कुटीं नरः

Transliteration

daśāhakarmakriyayā kuṭī niṣpādyate dhruvam / navakaiḥ ṣoḍaśaśrāddhaiḥ prayāti hi kuṭīṃ naraḥ

Translation

ദശാഹകർമക്രിയ ആചരിച്ചാൽ പ്രേതന്റെ ‘കുടി’ നിശ്ചയമായി സ്ഥാപിതമാകുന്നു. പിന്നെ ഒമ്പത് അധികക്രിയകളും പതിനാറ് ശ്രാദ്ധങ്ങളും കൊണ്ടു മനുഷ്യൻ ആ കുടി-സ്ഥിതിയെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• daśāha-karma-kriyayā: by the ten-day ritual action
• daśāha-karma-kriyayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśāha (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: daśāhasya karma-kriyā ‘ten-day rite/action’

• kuṭī: the hut/kuṭī
• kuṭī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• niṣpādyate: is produced/constructed
• niṣpādyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niṣ-pad (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) used as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• navakaiḥ: with nine (sets)
• navakaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण of ‘śrāddhaiḥ’

• ṣoḍaśa-śrāddhaiḥ: with sixteen śrāddha rites
• ṣoḍaśa-śrāddhaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः: ṣoḍaśāni śrāddhāni ‘sixteen śrāddhas’

• prayāti: goes/attains
• prayāti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing emphasis/indeed

• kuṭīm: the hut/kuṭī
• kuṭīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daśāha (ten-day period) followed by nine ancillary rites and the sixteen śrāddhas (as per this section’s scheme).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha and daśāha rites generate a supportive post-mortem ‘kuṭī’ state for the departed; ritual continuity is efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃskāra efficacy within saṃsāra; compassionate dharma toward pitṛs as a purifier for the living and aid for the dead.

Application: Perform the ten-day rites with precision; complete the prescribed additional rites and the sixteen śrāddhas as a structured program rather than sporadic offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (gṛha/śmaśāna vicinity implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on daśāha-kriyā, ekoddiṣṭa and sapīṇḍīkaraṇa sequences (adjacent adhyāyas)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the ten-day (daśāha) rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the daśāha ritual sequence certainly ‘accomplishes’ the kuṭī—an essential post-death support/state described in the Preta Kanda—indicating that the early rites are foundational for the departed’s onward condition.

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

It links specific śrāddha and related observances (navaka and sixteen śrāddhas) with the preta’s attainment of a defined post-death condition (kuṭī), implying that ritual offerings materially aid the departed’s transitional journey in the Garuda Purana framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform the prescribed post-death rites—especially the ten-day observances and śrāddhas—with care and continuity, treating them as duties (dharma) that support ancestors and reinforce family responsibility and ethical living.