Shloka 61

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

पूर्वोक्तैः पञ्चभिः पिण्डैः शवस्याहुतियोग्यता / अन्यथा चोपघाताच्च राक्षसाद्या भवन्ति हि

Transliteration

pūrvoktaiḥ pañcabhiḥ piṇḍaiḥ śavasyāhutiyogyatā / anyathā copaghātācca rākṣasādyā bhavanti hi

Translation

മുൻപറഞ്ഞ അഞ്ചു പിണ്ഡങ്ങളാൽ ശവം ആഹുതി സ്വീകരിക്കാൻ യോഗ്യമാകുന്നു. അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വിധിഭംഗവും ഉപഘാതവും മൂലം അത് രാക്ഷസാദിയായി മാറുന്നു.

Word by Word

• pūrva-uktaiḥ: with the previously mentioned
• pūrva-uktaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac- वच्, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पूर्वं उक्ताः) विशेषण

• pañcabhiḥ: with five
• pañcabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (piṇḍaiḥ-विशेषण)

• piṇḍaiḥ: with piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• piṇḍaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• śavasya: of the corpse
• śavasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• āhuti-yogyatā: fitness for offering (as āhuti)
• āhuti-yogyatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhuti (प्रातिपदिक) + yogyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आहुतेः योग्यता)

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (otherwise)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• upaghātāt: from harm/obstruction
• upaghātāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• rākṣasa-ādyāḥ: rakṣasas and the like
• rākṣasa-ādyāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राक्षसः आदिः येषाम्)

• bhavanti: become
• bhavanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/हेतुवाचक निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Early death-rite stage where the five piṇḍas are offered to qualify the śava/preta for subsequent offerings.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper performance of the five piṇḍas confers eligibility for offerings; negligence (upaghāta) yields adverse transformations and harmful states.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala immediacy in saṃskāra: omissions and ritual injury produce tangible negative consequences; dharma protects from disorder (adharma).

Application: Do not omit or damage the prescribed five piṇḍas; ensure continuity and correctness to avoid ‘upaghāta’ (ritual break/defect).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: antyeṣṭi/śrāddha ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (earlier description of the five piṇḍas; consequences of defects in preta rites)

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

This verse states that the five piṇḍas make the deceased fit to receive āhutis (ritual offerings); they are treated as essential steps in properly completing the post-death rites.

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

It implies that correct ritual support (piṇḍa offerings) stabilizes the post-death transition; neglect or flawed rites can lead to an inauspicious condition symbolized as becoming rākṣasa-like.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites and śrāddha-related observances carefully and respectfully (ideally with qualified guidance), emphasizing sincerity and completeness rather than omission or haste.