Shloka 143

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

वार्षिकं पिण्डदानादि भुक्त्वा तत्र प्रसर्पति / बहुभीतिकरं तत्तत् पिण्डजं देवमास्थितः

Transliteration

vārṣikaṃ piṇḍadānādi bhuktvā tatra prasarpati / bahubhītikaraṃ tattat piṇḍajaṃ devamāsthitaḥ

Translation

Matapos tanggapin at malasap ang taunang handog na śrāddha—na nagsisimula sa mga kaloob na piṇḍa—siya’y gumagala roon. Sa pagkanlong sa banal na tulong na isinilang mula sa piṇḍa, nalalampasan niya ang sari-saring kalagayang nakapangingilabot.

Word by Word

• वार्षिकम्: annual
• वार्षिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्षिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (piṇḍadānādi इत्यस्य)

• पिण्डदानादि: piṇḍa-offering and the like
• पिण्डदानादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड-दान-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + दान + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पिण्डदानं च आदिः च)

• भुक्त्वा: having consumed
• भुक्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having eaten/consumed’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• प्रसर्पति: crawls/creeps about
• प्रसर्पति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृप् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बहुभीतिकरम्: causing much fear
• बहुभीतिकरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-भीति-कर (प्रातिपदिक; बहु + भीति + कर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (तत्तत् इत्यस्य)

• तत्तत्: those various (things)
• तत्तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (that and that / various)

• पिण्डजम्: born of the piṇḍa (offering)
• पिण्डजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्ड-ज (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (देवम्)

• देवम्: a deity/spirit
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having resorted to
• आस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘having resorted to/entered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Annual (vāṛṣika/ābdika śrāddha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-piṇḍa as post-mortem sustenance and protection; the living’s ritual duty materially affects the preta’s passage.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of karma and saṃskāra across death; dharma as compassionate continuity; subtle-body support through ritual merit.

Application: Perform annual śrāddha with faith and correctness; ensure offerings are made in time, with purity and intention; support elders in maintaining ancestral rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: route/liminal passage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated statements that piṇḍa and udaka offerings become food/strength for the preta on the Yama-mārga; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa sections detailing annual rites and their fruits

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of annual śrāddha (vārṣika) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that the departed being ‘partakes’ of the yearly offerings; the vārṣika śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna are portrayed as real support that sustains the preta in its post-death condition.

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

It depicts the preta moving through frightening experiences, while being upheld by the ‘piṇḍa-born’ support—implying that proper rites provide continuity and aid during the unsettling transitional journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with sincerity and regularity (especially the annual rite), and cultivate gratitude and responsibility toward ancestors, seeing ritual duty as a form of compassionate support.