Shloka 30

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

मृस्योत्क्रान्तिसमयात्षट् पिण्डान्क्रमशो ददेत् / मृतस्थाने तथा द्वारे चत्वरे तार्क्ष्य कारणात्

Transliteration

mṛsyotkrāntisamayātṣaṭ piṇḍānkramaśo dadet / mṛtasthāne tathā dvāre catvare tārkṣya kāraṇāt

Translation

Mula sa sandali ng pagpanaw (kamatayan), maghandog ng anim na piṇḍa nang sunod-sunod—sa pook ng pagkamatay, sa may pintuan, at sa sangandaan—O Tārkṣya (Garuda), ayon sa itinakdang dahilan.

Word by Word

• मृतेः: of the deceased
• मृतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (मृत-शब्द), षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘मृतेः’ = of the deceased

• उत्क्रान्ति-समयात्: from the time of departure (death)
• उत्क्रान्ति-समयात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्-√क्रम् (धातु) + क्तिन् (उत्क्रान्ति) + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उत्क्रान्तेः समयः)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पिण्डान्)

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• क्रमशः: successively
• क्रमशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (in order, successively)

• ददेत्: should offer/give
• ददेत्: Kriya (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थः (should give)

• मृत-स्थाने: at the place of death
• मृत-स्थाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृतस्य स्थानम्)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक

• द्वारे: at the door
• द्वारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• चत्वरे: at the crossroads/public square
• चत्वरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन; संबोधन/प्रथमा-प्रयोगः (हे तार्क्ष्य)

• कारणात्: because of; for the reason
• कारणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: From the moment of death; six piṇḍas given sequentially at death-place, doorway, and crossroads (and implied additional stations per sequence).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa offerings must be given in a prescribed sequence from the moment of death, at specific liminal locations, for a defined ritual purpose.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as niyama (ordered practice) that harmonizes the seen and unseen; saṃskāra as shaping subtle outcomes beyond immediate perception.

Application: Follow the sequence and locations for piṇḍa-dāna carefully; treat rites as intentional acts of support rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual stations along the liminal boundary of the home/community

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: piṇḍa-dāna sequences and stations (death-place, doorway, crossroads) within preta-ritual manuals; Garuda Purana: rationale that offerings provide sustenance/aid to the preta during transition

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)
• Preta (the departed soul)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering piṇḍas immediately after death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes prompt, sequential piṇḍa offerings from the moment of death, indicating a ritual duty meant to support and properly transition the departed in the preta-stage.

Why are offerings made at the death-place, doorway, and crossroads (catvara)?

The verse specifies these liminal locations—where death occurred, the threshold, and the crossroads—reflecting key points of passage in the departure journey and the rite’s prescribed order.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Follow family or tradition-approved antyeṣṭi guidance with care and sequence; even when simplified, maintain sincerity, orderliness, and respect for prescribed funeral observances.