Shloka 117

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

ऊनषाण्मासिके क्रौञ्चे भुक्त्वा पिण्डन्तु सोदकम् / घटीमात्रन्तु विश्रम्य विचित्रनगरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

ūnaṣāṇmāsike krauñce bhuktvā piṇḍantu sodakam / ghaṭīmātrantu viśramya vicitranagaraṃ vrajet

Translation

ณสถานีชื่อ ‘เคราญจะ’ อันเกี่ยวเนื่องกับพิธีอุทิศก่อนครบหกเดือน เขารับประทานปิณฑะพร้อมน้ำ แล้วพักเพียงหนึ่งฆฏี ก่อนจะมุ่งไปยังนครชื่อ ‘วิจิตรนคร’.

Word by Word

• ūnaṣāṇmāsike: in the (place/period) of less-than-six-months (i.e., before six months)
• ūnaṣāṇmāsike: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūna-ṣaṇmāsika (प्रातिपदिक; ūna=अल्प/न्यून + ṣaṇmāsika=षण्माससम्बद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative qualifier)

• krauñce: in/at Krauñca (a place)
• krauñce: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krauñca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• piṇḍam: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• piṇḍam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• sodakam: with water
• sodakam: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-udaka (प्रातिपदिक; sa=सहित + udaka=जल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying piṇḍam)

• ghaṭīmātram: for just one ghaṭī (about 24 minutes)
• ghaṭīmātram: Kāla-adhikarana (Time extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭī-mātra (प्रातिपदिक; ghaṭī=घटी + mātra=मात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; कालपरिमाणवाचक (measure of time)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्ययम्; पुनरुक्त-विशेषार्थक

• viśramya: having rested
• viśramya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-śram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); विश्रान्तिं कृत्वा

• vicitranagaram: the city called Vicitranagara
• vicitranagaram: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicitra-nagara (प्रातिपदिक; vicitra=विचित्र + nagara=नगर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• vrajet: should go
• vrajet: Kriya (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: ūna-ṣaṇmāsika (before completion of six months) / linked to ṣaṇmāsika sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-mortem movement is structured; offerings by the living tangibly aid the departed during the preta-journey.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and subtle embodiment (preta-śarīra) persist until rites and merit mature; dependence on dharma for post-death welfare.

Application: Perform timely śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna (with udaka) at prescribed intervals; treat rites as compassionate duty to stabilize the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: way-station (adhvan-sthāna) and city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: sequential stations of the preta’s path; ṣaṇmāsika/ūna-ṣaṇmāsika śrāddha discussions; piṇḍa-udaka efficacy passages

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pinda
• Udaka
• Krauñca
• Vicitranagara

FAQs

What is the importance of the ūnaṣāṇmāsika rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the pre-six-month rite with tangible support to the departed: the preta is described as receiving (partaking of) the piṇḍa with water at a specific station, indicating the rite’s role in sustaining and enabling onward movement on the after-death path.

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

It presents the journey as a sequence of named stations: after receiving the offering at Krauñca, the preta rests briefly (one ghaṭī) and then travels onward to Vicitranagara, implying a structured progression influenced by rites performed by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related offerings with care—especially piṇḍa and udaka—remembering that the text frames them as acts of support and continuity for ancestors, reinforcing responsibility, gratitude, and disciplined ritual observance.