Shloka 54

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

त्रिपक्षे ऽभ्युदये वापि द्वादशाहे ऽथ वा नृणाम् / आनन्त्यात्कुलधर्माणां पुंसाञ्चैवायुषः क्षयात्

Transliteration

tripakṣe 'bhyudaye vāpi dvādaśāhe 'tha vā nṛṇām / ānantyātkuladharmāṇāṃ puṃsāñcaivāyuṣaḥ kṣayāt

Translation

对世人而言，仪礼或在第十三日行，或在吉庆之时行，或在第十二日行；因为家族之法无有穷尽，而人的寿命亦在日渐减损。

Word by Word

• त्रिपक्षे: in the three-fortnight period
• त्रिपक्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• अभ्युदये: on an auspicious occasion/at a festival
• अभ्युदये: Adhikarana (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्युदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (Vikalpa/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Particle (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• द्वादशाहे: on the twelfth-day period (dvādaśāha)
• द्वादशाहे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (द्वादश अहानि)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (Vikalpa/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• आनन्त्यात्: due to endlessness
• आनन्त्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

• कुलधर्माणाम्: of family duties/rites
• कुलधर्माणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—कुल-धर्म (कुलस्य धर्माः) = Genitive Tatpurusha

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (Samuccaya/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Particle (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis: just/indeed)

• आयुषः: of lifespan
• आयुषः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• क्षयात्: due to decline/waning
• क्षयात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: On the 12th day, 13th day (tr̥pakṣa/tryaḥpakṣa reading contextually), or at an abhyudaya (auspicious occasion), as permitted by lineage practice and necessity.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rites may be performed on the 12th, 13th, or on auspicious occasions because kula-dharma is endless and human lifespan is waning; therefore do not delay.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) as a spur to dharmic action; time (kāla) as a governing principle over embodied life and obligations.

Application: Do not postpone essential family rites; choose an acceptable śāstric timing (12th/13th/abhyudaya) when constraints exist, keeping continuity of practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.5.55 (12-day appropriateness due to bodily instability); Garuda Purana 2.5.52-53 (timing schedules)

FAQs

What is the importance of deciding the correct timing for post-death rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that rites may be done on the 12th day, 13th day, or on an auspicious day—emphasizing practicality and continuity of kula-dharma rather than rigid delay.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to rituals?

By stressing that human lifespan is diminishing and duties are many, it implies rites should be completed promptly so the departed is supported by the prescribed ancestral obligations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Complete essential funeral and śrāddha duties without unnecessary postponement, choosing an appropriate day (12th/13th/auspicious) in line with family tradition and competent guidance.