Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

यावन्नोत्पादितो देहस्तावच्छ्राद्धैर्न प्रीणनम् / क्षुधाविभ्रममापन्नो दशाहेन च तर्पितः

Transliteration

yāvannotpādito dehastāvacchrāddhairna prīṇanam / kṣudhāvibhramamāpanno daśāhena ca tarpitaḥ

Translation

ตราบใดที่กายของเปรตยังไม่ก่อรูป เขายังไม่อิ่มเอิบด้วยเครื่องบูชาศราทธะ เมื่อถูกรบกวนด้วยความหิว เขาย่อมได้รับการหล่อเลี้ยงและทำให้พอใจด้วยพิธีกรรมสิบวัน (ทศาหะ)

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), temporal adverb/conjunction meaning 'as long as'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle

• utpāditaḥ: produced/formed
• utpāditaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utpād (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); from √utpād 'to produce, generate'

• dehaḥ: body
• dehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāvat: so long (then)
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), correlative adverb 'so long/then'

• śrāddhaiḥ: by śrāddha rites
• śrāddhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle

• prīṇanam: satisfaction/pleasing
• prīṇanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīṇana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1) or Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); action-noun from √prī 'to please/satisfy'

• kṣudhā: by hunger
• kṣudhā: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• vibhramam: confusion/delusion
• vibhramam: Karma (कर्म/object of 'āpanna')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• āpannaḥ: having fallen into
• āpannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + √pad (धातु) + na (कृत्)
• Form: Past participle (क्तवत्/निष्ठा), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; 'having reached/entered into'

• daśāhena: by (the rite of) ten days
• daśāhena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; Dvigu compound: daśa (दश) + aha (अहन्) = 'ten days'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction

• tarpitaḥ: satiated/propitiated
• tarpitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛp (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; from √tṛp 'to satisfy' (causative sense in ritual: 'to offer libations/satiate')

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daśāha (ten-day period immediately after death)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The preta’s post-mortem experience is conditioned by ritual support; until the subtle/preta body forms, śrāddha does not fully ‘reach’ as satisfaction, while daśāha rites sustain the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity (sūkṣma-śarīra) and the efficacy of karma-kāṇḍa in the liminal state; dependence on saṃskāra for orderly transition.

Application: Perform the ten-day (daśāha) rites diligently; do not assume generic śrāddha alone suffices in the earliest interval.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: daśāha-vidhi and preta-śarīra formation passages (adjacent verses in 2.34); Garuda Purana: śrāddha-tattva sections describing early post-death offerings

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Shraddha (rites)
• Daśāha (ten-day rites)

FAQs

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

This verse states that before the preta-body is fully formed, ordinary śrāddha does not fully satisfy it; the ten-day rites specifically provide nourishment and relief from the preta’s hunger and distress.

How does this verse explain the soul’s condition immediately after death?

It depicts an interim state where the being experiences hunger and confusion until a functional preta-body is formed, and it emphasizes that prescribed post-death offerings help stabilize and sustain it during this transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform the traditional ten-day post-death rites with care (as per one’s śākhā/family custom and guidance of a priest), treating them as a focused support for the departed’s transition rather than as a mere formality.