Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 67

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रैस्तु नवभिः प्रेतो निष्पत्तिमाप्नुयात् / जन्तोर्निष्पन्नदेहस्य दशमे वलवत्क्षुधा

Transliteration

ahorātraistu navabhiḥ preto niṣpattimāpnuyāt / jantorniṣpannadehasya daśame valavatkṣudhā

Translation

Trong chín ngày đêm, người đã khuất đạt đến sự thành tựu trọn vẹn của thân phận preta. Với hữu tình có thân (preta) đã thành, đến ngày thứ mười liền khởi lên cơn đói mạnh mẽ.

Word by Word

• aho-rātraiḥ: by days and nights
• aho-rātraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle)

• navabhiḥ: with nine
• navabhiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्

• pretaḥ: the departed spirit (preta)
• pretaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• niṣpattim: completion/formation
• niṣpattim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• āpnuyāt: would attain
• āpnuyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (आप्, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• jantoḥ: of the being
• jantoḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• niṣpanna-dehasya: of one whose body is formed
• niṣpanna-dehasya: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣpanna (√pad, पद्, धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (निष्पन्नः देहः यस्य)

• daśame: on the tenth (day)
• daśame: Adhikarana (Time locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• valavat: strongly/powerfully
• valavat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: valavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनरूपम्; तुल्योपमा-विशेषणम्

• kṣudhā: hunger
• kṣudhā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Nine day-night cycles culminating on the tenth day (daśāhika context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The preta-body becomes constituted over nine day-night cycles; on the tenth day intense hunger arises, implying dependence on offerings and karmic momentum.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity after death; saṃskāra-driven embodiment prior to rebirth; suffering as karmic consequence within saṃsāra.

Application: Observe the ten-day sequence diligently; provide offerings/rites especially mindful of the tenth-day need, treating the period as spiritually consequential.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: liminal passage-state

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: daśāhika and piṇḍa-based limb formation (2.15.68-70); Garuda Purana: descriptions of preta hunger/thirst and relief through śrāddha (Pretakalpa passages)

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of the ninth and tenth day in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that the preta attains a completed (formed) state over nine day-night cycles, and that intense hunger arises on the tenth day—supporting the ritual emphasis on early post-death offerings and rites.

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

It describes an early transitional phase where the departed is spoken of as a preta whose post-death embodiment becomes ‘complete’ over time, indicating a staged journey rather than an instantaneous change.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages timely, respectful observance of post-death rites (as per one’s tradition) and compassionate remembrance—recognizing the Garuda Purana’s focus on supporting the departed during the initial transition.