Shloka 2

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते येन दानेन च शुभे न च / तन्मे कथय देवेश मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्

Transliteration

pretatvānmucyate yena dānena ca śubhe na ca / tanme kathaya deveśa mama cedicchasi priyam

Translation

أخبرني، يا ربَّ الآلهة، بأيِّ صدقةٍ (dāna) يتحرّر المرء من حال كونه بريتا (روحًا هائمة)—سواء أكانت تلك العطية مباركة أم غير مباركة؛ فاشرح ذلك لي إن كنت تريد أن تُرضي ما هو عزيزٌ عليّ.

Word by Word

• प्रेतत्वात्: from the state of being a preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतत्वात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• दानेन: by (means of) a gift/charity
• दानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुभे: in an auspicious (occasion/place)
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• मे: to me / of me
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• कथय: tell (me)
• कथय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; √कथ् causative)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• इच्छसि: you wish
• इच्छसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रियम्: what is dear/pleasing (to me)
• प्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna as a karmic remedy that can release a departed being from pretatva; discernment of auspicious/inauspicious gifting and its efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and upāya (means) within saṃsāra; compassionate intervention through dharmic action without denying the law of causality.

Application: Perform prescribed charity with right intention and proper recipients (esp. dhārmika/brāhmaṇa contexts) as part of death-related duties to aid the departed and purify the giver.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: discussions on pretatva, dāna, and śrāddha as remedies (adjacent adhyāyas in Preta-khaṇḍa/Preta-kalpa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Devas
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana for the departed?

This verse frames dāna as a decisive remedy: Garuda asks which specific gift can release a departed being from the preta-condition, highlighting charity as a key post-death rite and merit-transfer act.

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

It implies an interim condition—pretatva—where the departed may remain bound, and that prescribed actions (especially dāna) can alter that trajectory toward relief and onward progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charitable giving and prescribed memorial offerings with intention and ethical purity, dedicating the merit for the departed while living a dharmic life that supports such rites.