Shloka 35
Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga
Path to Yama
चतुर्थेन च पिण्डेन नाभिलिङ्गगुदं तथा / जानुजङ्घं तथा पादौ पञ्चमेन तु सर्वदा
caturthena ca piṇḍena nābhiliṅgagudaṃ tathā / jānujaṅghaṃ tathā pādau pañcamena tu sarvadā
ด้วยปิณฑทานก้อนที่สี่ สะดือ อวัยวะสืบพันธุ์ และทวารหนักจึงก่อรูป; ด้วยก้อนที่ห้า เข่า น่อง และเท้าย่อมบังเกิดขึ้นเป็นนิตย์।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Subsequent days in the early post-death piṇḍa sequence (after first three offerings).
Concept: Specific piṇḍas correspond to formation of lower abdominal organs and limbs, completing the functional body for the preta.
Vedantic Theme: Embodied experience is structured; even ‘lower’ functions are part of nāma-rūpa governed by karma and ritual causality in vyavahāra.
Application: Continue the prescribed piṇḍa sequence without omission, understanding it is meant to complete the departed’s bodily integrity for onward passage.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.5.33-34 (head and upper body formation); Garuda Purana 2.5.36 (marmas, nāḍīs, hair/teeth, vīrya)
FAQs
This verse states that specific piṇḍa offerings correspond to the formation of particular bodily parts for the preta, showing piṇḍa-dāna as a structured rite that supports the deceased’s post-death embodied continuity.
It presents the post-death condition as involving a developing preta-body, where successive offerings aid the formation of organs and limbs, enabling the departed to proceed through after-death stages described in the Preta Kanda.
If one performs śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna, do it with sequence, care, and intention, treating the rite as a duty (dharma) toward the departed rather than a mere formality.