Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य अग्नौ सन्तर्प्य देवताः / घृतेन दध्ना क्षीरेण विश्वान्देवांस्तथा नृप

Transliteration

tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya agnau santarpya devatāḥ / ghṛtena dadhnā kṣīreṇa viśvāndevāṃstathā nṛpa

Translation

ثم بعد أن يطوف طوافَ التعظيم (برَدَكشِنا)، فليُرضِ الآلهةَ عبر النار المقدّسة، بتقديم السمن المصفّى (غي)، واللبن الرائب، والحليب؛ وبهذا تُغذّى جميع الآلهة، أيها الملك.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (adverb: thereafter)

• प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य: having circumambulated (clockwise)
• प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + दक्षिणी + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), 'प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा' इत्यर्थः

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सन्तर्प्य: having satisfied (offered oblations to)
• सन्तर्प्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + तृप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), 'सन्तर्प्य' = 'सन्तर्पणं कृत्वा/तर्पयित्वा'

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दध्ना: with curd
• दध्ना: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (दध्ना = दधि-शब्दस्य तृतीया एकवचन)

• क्षीरेण: with milk
• क्षीरेण: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• विश्वान्: all
• विश्वान्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying देवान्)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थ (also/likewise)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after pūjā, as devatā-santarpana via Agni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Homa/tarpaṇa through Agni with ghṛta, dadhi, kṣīra as a means to satisfy devatās and stabilize the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purificatory discipline; yajña as harmonizing human action with cosmic reciprocity.

Application: Perform offerings with clean substances and attentive circumambulation; treat fire as a sacred conduit, not a mere symbol.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacrificial fire altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: agni-tarpaṇa and devatā-santarpana as aṅgas of śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sequences; Garuda Purana: lists of havis substances (ghṛta, kṣīra, dadhi) used in rites

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Devas
• All Gods (Viśve Devāḥ)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering ghee, curd, and milk into Agni in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Agni as the ritual medium through which offerings (ghee, curd, milk) reach and ‘satisfy’ the deities, supporting the correct performance of śrāddha-related rites.

How does this verse relate to the journey of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, such prescribed rites are presented as dharmic supports for post-death transitions, ensuring ritual completeness and divine assent during the preta-related period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing ancestral/funeral observances, follow the tradition with clarity and reverence—pradakṣiṇā and disciplined offerings—while maintaining ethical living as the foundation of dharma.