Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 38

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

पञ्च श्राद्धानि कुर्वीत देवतानां यथाविधि / जलधारां ततो दद्यत्पीठेपीठे पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

pañca śrāddhāni kurvīta devatānāṃ yathāvidhi / jaladhārāṃ tato dadyatpīṭhepīṭhe pṛthakpṛthak

Translation

ينبغي أداء خمس قرابين شْرَادْدها للآلهة على الوجه المأثور؛ ثم بعد ذلك يُسكب خيطٌ من الماء (جَلَذَارَا) منفصلاً عند كل مَقعد (پِيٺا)، واحدًا بعد واحد.

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; विशेषण (to श्राद्धानि)

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), बहुवचन

• कुर्वीत: should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• यथाविधि: according to rule
• यथाविधि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (यथाविधि = विधिना यथा), क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• जलधाराम्: a stream of water
• जलधाराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जलस्य धारा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पीठे: on a seat/pedestal
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पीठे: on each seat
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति: distributive sense)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: भेदवाचक-अव्यय (separately)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: भेदवाचक-अव्यय (reduplicated for distributive emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the devatā portion of śrāddha, before subsequent dāna steps.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity within order: five prescribed śrāddhas for devatās and distinct water-stream offerings to each seat.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with precision reduces rajas/tamas and cultivates sattva, preparing for higher knowledge.

Application: When performing śrāddha/offerings, follow the enumerated steps; pour water separately for each designated seat rather than collectively.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual seats (pīṭhas) arranged in a mandapa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40.39-41 (tilodaka preparation and dāna items following water offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of performing five śrāddhas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames a specific prescribed sequence: five śrāddha-offerings directed to the deities, followed by separate water-libations at each designated seat, emphasizing orderly ritual completeness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, correct śrāddha procedure is presented as supportive dharma for the departed’s post-death passage; the verse highlights precise offerings (devatā-śrāddha and jaladhārā) that accompany the broader journey described in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking śrāddha, follow a consistent, tradition-backed procedure: make offerings with clarity of intention and perform separate water-libations for each intended recipient/seat, rather than mixing them.