Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

मध्ये पितामहं पूज्य तथा देवं महेश्वरम् / पूजयेच्च विधानेन गन्धपुष्पादिभिः पृथक्

Transliteration

madhye pitāmahaṃ pūjya tathā devaṃ maheśvaram / pūjayecca vidhānena gandhapuṣpādibhiḥ pṛthak

Translation

في الوسط يُعبَدُ الجدُّ المكرَّم بيتامها (براهما)، وكذلك الإله ماهيشڤارا (شيفا)؛ ووفقًا للنسك المقرَّر تُؤدَّى العبادة لكلٍّ على حدة بتقديم الطيب والزهور ونحوها من القرابين.

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (सप्तमी-प्रयोग/locative sense), स्थानवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable adverb of place)

• पितामहम्: the grandfather (ancestor)
• पितामहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पूज्य: to be worshipped / worthy of worship
• पूज्य: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पितामहम्)

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-उपपद/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb/conjunctive: 'also/likewise')

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन (apposition)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• गन्धपुष्पादिभिः: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• गन्धपुष्पादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—गन्धपुष्पादि (गन्धं च पुष्पं च आदि च इति 'etc.'-समाहार), 'आदि'प्रयोगेन समुच्चयार्थ

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-funeral sequence within śrāddha-related observances

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devapūjā as a required limb of post-funeral observance; honoring distinct deities with distinct upacāras.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-ārādhana and yajña-bhāva as purifying supports for dharma; many forms, one sacred order.

Application: In rites, keep offerings and mantras properly assigned; maintain cleanliness and intentionality; avoid mixing procedures meant for different deities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual altar/maṇḍala arrangement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa: devatā-tarpaṇa and pūjā as aṅgas of śrāddha; Garuda Purana: instructions on pūjā with gandha-puṣpa-dhūpa-dīpa-naivedya in ritual contexts

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Pitamaha)
• Shiva (Maheshvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Pitāmaha (Brahmā) and Maheśvara (Śiva) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse places Brahmā and Śiva as specific recipients of ritual honor within the prescribed rite, indicating that correct deva-pūjā supports the intended sanctity and efficacy of the śrāddha/pretakriyā sequence.

Does this verse describe the soul’s journey after death?

Indirectly: rather than describing the path, it gives a procedural instruction for offerings during post-death rites, which the Garuda Purana presents as supportive duties (dharma) connected to the departed’s welfare.

What is a practical application of this instruction today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial worship, follow a clear, rule-based sequence and make offerings (e.g., fragrance and flowers) with attention—honoring each deity distinctly rather than mixing the worship casually.