Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 6

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

आश्विने कर्तिके वापि माघे मृततिथावपि / चतुर्दश्याञ्च दीयेत दीपदानं सुखाय वै

Transliteration

āśvine kartike vāpi māghe mṛtatithāvapi / caturdaśyāñca dīyeta dīpadānaṃ sukhāya vai

Translation

سواء كان ذلك في شهر آشوينا أو كارتيكا أو ماغها، وكذلك في تِثي ذكرى الوفاة—وخاصة في اليوم القمري الرابع عشر—فينبغي تقديم السراج؛ فإن صدقة السراج حقًّا سببٌ للسلامة والسعادة.

Word by Word

• आश्विने: in (the month of) Āśvina
• आश्विने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्विन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; मास-नाम (locative of time)

• कर्तिके: in Kārttika
• कर्तिके: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; मास-नाम (locative of time)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• माघे: in Māgha
• माघे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; मास-नाम (locative of time)

• मृततिथौ: on the death-anniversary lunar day
• मृततिथौ: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत-तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृतस्य तिथिः)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth lunar day
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथि-नाम (locative of time)

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

• दीयेत: should be given
• दीयेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• दीपदानम्: the gift of a lamp
• दीपदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दीपस्य दानम्)

• सुखाय: for happiness
• सुखाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन-द्योतक (dative of purpose)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Āśvina/Kārtika/Māgha; mṛta-tithi; especially caturdaśī

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dīpa-dāna on auspicious months and on the death-anniversary tithi brings sukha and well-being; ritual timing (kāla) amplifies merit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a purifier: sattvic acts (light-offering) refine the mind and support auspicious outcomes while remembering impermanence.

Application: Offer a steady lamp (ghee/oil) on caturdaśī and on the departed’s tithi in Āśvina/Kārtika/Māgha with a brief sankalpa for welfare and peace.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dāna for preta-path support (daily offerings; year-long period); Garuda Purana: dīpa-dāna praise passages in dāna-khaṇḍa style sections

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dīpadāna (lamp offering) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering a lamp—especially on caturdaśī and on the deceased person’s mṛta-tithi—is prescribed as an auspicious act that brings sukha (well-being/comfort), aligning ritual merit with support for the departed.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and the departed soul?

Within the Preta Kanda context, the instruction emphasizes timed observances (specific months, mṛta-tithi, and caturdaśī) where offerings like a lamp are considered supportive, generating auspiciousness and relief associated with post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

On a loved one’s death-anniversary tithi (and especially on caturdaśī), offer a lamp with a prayer for peace and welfare—keeping the act simple, sincere, and aligned with śrāddha or remembrance observances.