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Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तेन मम जातं नृपोत्तम / एकादशं त्रिपक्षं च षाण्मासिकमथाब्दिकम् / प्रतिमास्यानि चान्यानि एवं श्राद्धानि षोडश

Transliteration

pretatvaṃ susthiraṃ tena mama jātaṃ nṛpottama / ekādaśaṃ tripakṣaṃ ca ṣāṇmāsikamathābdikam / pratimāsyāni cānyāni evaṃ śrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa

Translation

Darum, o bester der Könige, wurde mein Zustand als Preta fest begründet. Daher gibt es das Ritual des elften Tages, die Zeremonie nach drei Vierzehntagen, das Sechsmonatsritual, das Jahresritual und die weiteren monatlichen Observanzen—so sind es sechzehn Śrāddhas, die zu vollziehen sind.

Word by Word
प्रेतत्वम्the state of being a preta
प्रेतत्वम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘state of being a preta’
सुस्थिरम्very firm/lasting
सुस्थिरम्:
Karta (Subject complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootसु- + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective
तेनtherefore/by that
तेन:
Hetu/Karana (Cause/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘therefore/by that’
ममof me/my
मम:
Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
जातम्has become
जातम्:
Kriya (verbal predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootजन् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘has become’
नृपोत्तमO best of kings
नृपोत्तम:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootनृप + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समास: नृप-उत्तम = ‘best of kings’
एकादशम्the eleventh (day rite)
एकादशम्:
Qualifier
TypeAdjective
Rootएकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ordinal/measure ‘eleventh’ (as rite/period)
त्रिपक्षम्(the rite for) three fortnights
त्रिपक्षम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म) (as item in list)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रि + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: त्रि-पक्ष = three fortnights
चand
च:
Sambandha/Connector
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)
षाण्मासिकम्the six-month rite
षाण्मासिकम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म) (as item in list)
TypeNoun
Rootषाण्(षट्) + मासिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासार्थ: षण्मासे भवम्/सम्बद्धम् = six-monthly rite
अथthen
अथ:
Discourse connector
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तर/प्रसङ्गबोधक अव्यय (then/next)
आब्दिकम्the annual rite
आब्दिकम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म) (as item in list)
TypeNoun
Rootआब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘annual (rite)’
प्रतिमास्यानिmonthly (rites)
प्रतिमास्यानि:
Karma (Object/कर्म) (as item in list)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रति + मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: प्रति-मास्य = ‘monthly’; here plural ‘monthly ones (rites)’
चand
च:
Sambandha/Connector
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)
अन्यानिother
अन्यानि:
Qualifier
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘other’
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in this manner)
श्राद्धानिśrāddha rites
श्राद्धानि:
Karma (Object/कर्म) (as item in list)
TypeNoun
Rootश्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘śrāddha rites’
षोडशsixteen
षोडश:
Qualifier (number)
TypeAdjective
Rootषोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
Formसंख्यावाचक; प्रायः अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अत्र ‘श्राद्धानि’ इत्यस्य संख्या (sixteen)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: 11th day; after three fortnights; at six months; at one year; and monthly observances—total sixteen śrāddhas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without timely śrāddhas, pretatva becomes fixed; prescribed sequence of sixteen śrāddhas supports the departed’s transition.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual duty (karma-kanda) governs post-mortem states within samsara; correct performance mitigates suffering and restores order (rita/dharma).

Application: Follow the prescribed schedule of post-death rites with competent guidance; treat timing as essential, not optional.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual timeline markers (11th day, fortnight, etc.)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: detailed shraddha schedules and preta-release logic; Garuda Purana: descriptions of pretatva duration and relief through pindadana (general)

Characters & Entities
P
Preta
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse frames the śrāddha sequence as a structured set of sixteen rites (including 11th-day, tripakṣa, six-month, annual, and monthly observances) meant to address the preta-condition and support the departed through prescribed stages.

It implies a staged post-death process where the deceased may remain in a preta-state; periodic śrāddhas are prescribed at specific intervals to ritually aid and stabilize the soul’s transition in the after-death journey.

Follow a consistent and respectful memorial/śrāddha schedule (as per one’s tradition and family priestly guidance), emphasizing intention, charity, and remembrance—treating ritual duty as an expression of dharma toward ancestors.

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