Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

सान्नाश्च सोदका देया घटाः प्रेतहिताय वै / शय्यादानमथो दत्त्वा घटं प्रेतस्य निर्वपेत्

Transliteration

sānnāśca sodakā deyā ghaṭāḥ pretahitāya vai / śayyādānamatho dattvā ghaṭaṃ pretasya nirvapet

Translation

Zum Wohle des Preta (des Verstorbenen) sollen Krüge gegeben werden, gefüllt mit gekochter Speise und Wasser. Und nachdem man die Gabe eines Lagers dargebracht hat, soll man sodann einen Krug dem Preta weihen.

Word by Word

• सान्नाः: (pots) with food (anna)
• सान्नाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. pl.)

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

• सोदकाः: with water
• सोदकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सह उदकेन = with water)

• देयाः: should be given
• देयाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive: ‘to be given’)

• घटाः: pots
• घटाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्रेतहिताय: for the benefit of the preta
• प्रेतहिताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत-हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य हितम् = welfare of the preta)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शय्यादानम्: the gift of a bed
• शय्यादानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शय्यायाः दानम् = gift of a bed)

• अथो: then
• अथो: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon) + निपात (emphasis)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having given’

• घटम्: a pot
• घटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रेतस्य: of the preta
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• निर्वपेत्: should offer/should place as offering
• निर्वपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha context (preta-focused period)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and śrāddha-upacāra as obligatory support for the departed; material offerings become spiritual aid.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and supporter of the jīva’s post-mortem transition; compassion expressed as dharma.

Application: During śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related rites, give a pot with cooked food and water; perform śayyā-dāna; then dedicate a specific pot as ‘preta-ghaṭa’ for the departed’s welfare.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-vidhi and preta-upakāra sections around 2.27 (preta-ghaṭa, piṇḍa, udaka-dāna); Garuda Purana: discussions of dāna as remover of aśubha and as preta-tṛpti

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of offering food-and-water pots (ghata-dana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that pots filled with food and water should be given specifically for the preta’s welfare, indicating that annodaka-dāna is a key supportive rite for the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By prescribing gifts of food, water, and a bed for the preta, the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s view that the departed benefits from post-death rites and donations performed by the living during the preta stage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related charity with intention: donate food and drinking water (or vessels for them) and, where appropriate, provide bedding/comfort items in memory of the departed as a dharmic act of support.