Shloka 63
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
यस्मिन् दिने मृतो जन्तुरटव्यां विषमे ऽपि वा / यदा तदा भवेद्दाहः सूतकं मृतवासरात्
yasmin dine mṛto janturaṭavyāṃ viṣame 'pi vā / yadā tadā bhaveddāhaḥ sūtakaṃ mṛtavāsarāt
جس دن جاندار کی موت ہو—چاہے جنگل میں ہو یا دشوار جگہ پر—جب ممکن ہو تب دَہن (جلانے) کا سنسکار کیا جائے؛ مگر سوتک کی گنتی موت کے دن ہی سے ہوتی ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Cremation when feasible; sūtaka counted from the day of death (mṛta-vāsara).
Concept: Sūtaka (ritual impurity) begins from the day of death, while cremation may be delayed until feasible.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as niyati for embodied life; ritual time (kāla) governs social-religious order amid impermanence.
Application: Record the exact day of death for counting impurity; perform cremation as soon as possible without violating safety/feasibility.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: wilderness/rough terrain
Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta/Śrāddha-kalpa sections on sūtaka counting and antyeṣṭi timing; Garuda Purana 2.34.64-67 (eleventh-day gifts, purification periods, annual piṇḍa)
FAQs
This verse states that sūtaka is not delayed by practical obstacles; it begins from the day of death, preserving the dharmic reckoning of post-death observances.
It allows cremation to be done when feasible (yadā tadā), especially if death occurs in a forest or difficult terrain, while maintaining that impurity is counted from the death-day itself.
If logistics delay cremation (travel, permissions, remote location), proceed as soon as possible, but count mourning/impurity observances from the date of death for ritual consistency.