Shloka 25

Preta-bhāva: Causes, Remedies, and the Rationale of Post-death Rites

Question-Catalogue

Devanagari script

दिनेदिने च दातव्यं घटान्नं प्रेततृप्तये / प्राप्ते काले च म्रियते अनित्यो मानवः प्रभो

Transliteration

dinedine ca dātavyaṃ ghaṭānnaṃ pretatṛptaye / prāpte kāle ca mriyate anityo mānavaḥ prabho

Translation

Tag für Tag soll ein Maß gekochter Speise gegeben werden zur Sättigung des Preta, des Geistes des Verstorbenen. Denn wenn die bestimmte Zeit eintrifft, stirbt der Mensch—unbeständig ist der Mensch, o Herr.

Word by Word

• दिने: on a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (day after day)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दातव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive): 'to be given'

• घटान्नम्: a pot-measure of food
• घटान्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: घटे (घटेन) अन्नम् / घट-परिमितम् अन्नम् (pot-measure of food)

• प्रेततृप्तये: for the satisfaction of the departed spirit
• प्रेततृप्तये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: प्रेतस्य तृप्तये (for the satisfaction of the departed)

• प्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• म्रियते: dies
• म्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• अनित्यः: impermanent
• अनित्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषभाव (negated adjective)

• मानवः: a human being
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily during the preta period (commonly within the daśāha/first days as prescribed)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anityatā (impermanence) and the necessity of timely righteous action; daily offering as compassionate duty while cultivating detachment.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya born of mortality; karma performed without delay as preparation for higher pursuit.

Application: Offer daily cooked food (as prescribed) during the preta period; let the reminder of death motivate ethical living, reconciliation, and spiritual practice now.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household offering space (daily)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.28 (daily preta offerings; daśāha regimen); Garuda Purana teachings on anityatā and urgency of dharma (various chapters)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of daily food offerings (ghaṭānna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that giving a daily measured offering of cooked food is meant for preta-tṛpti—supporting and appeasing the departed in the preta state as part of prescribed post-death rites.

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

By naming the departed as a “preta,” the verse reflects the intermediate condition after death where ritual support is advised; it also frames the teaching with the certainty of death at the appointed time, emphasizing preparation through dharmic rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Remember impermanence and act promptly in dharma: perform family death-rites conscientiously (as per tradition and guidance), and cultivate daily charity/offerings with the awareness that life ends when time matures.