Shloka 78

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

सपत्नीकाय सम्पूज्य स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम् / वस्त्रैः सुशोभनैः पूज्य चैलकं परिधापयेत्

Transliteration

sapatnīkāya sampūjya svarlokasukhadāyinīm / vastraiḥ suśobhanaiḥ pūjya cailakaṃ paridhāpayet

Translation

Nachdem man den Empfänger zusammen mit seiner Gattin gebührend verehrt hat—sie, die das Glück der Himmelswelten schenkt—soll man sie mit feinen, schönen Gewändern ehren und ihr ein Tuch zum Anlegen geben.

Word by Word

• सपत्नीकाय: to (the man) with his wife
• सपत्नीकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स-पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/दत्ते), एकवचन; ‘पत्नी सहितः’ इति कर्मधारय-समास

• सम्पूज्य: having fully worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having duly worshipped’

• स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम्: (her) who grants happiness in heaven
• स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्लोक + सुख + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘स्वर्लोकस्य सुखं ददाति’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासभावः

• वस्त्रैः: with garments
• वस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• सुशोभनैः: very beautiful
• सुशोभनैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘सु’ उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण

• पूज्य: having to worship / after worshipping
• पूज्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive); ‘to be worshipped / having to worship’ (विध्यर्थे)

• चैलकम्: a cloth/garment
• चैलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• परिधापयेत्: should make (her) wear / should put on
• परिधापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + धा (धातु)
• Form: णिच् (causative) + विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परिधापयेत् = ‘should cause to be worn / should put on’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within the eleventh-day sequence leading to ekādaśāha observance (contextual).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and honoring the couple (especially the patnī) as a dharmic act that yields svarga-sukha.

Vedantic Theme: Gṛhastha-dharma as a purifier of karma; honoring śakti/śrī as auspicious support for dharma.

Application: In rites of gifting (especially bed/household gifts), worship both husband and wife; offer clean, beautiful garments with respectful intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34 (tulā/śayyā-dāna and associated pūjā-vidhi context); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections emphasizing dāna as preta-hitakara (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Svarga (Svarloka)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering garments (vastra-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links honoring with fine clothing to the bestowal of ‘svarloka-sukha’ (heavenly well-being), presenting garment-giving as a meritorious act within śrāddha-related duties.

How does this verse fit into the Garuda Purana’s guidance on post-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual instructions, it emphasizes respectful worship and charitable gifting—specifically clothing—to generate auspicious results for the departed and uphold dharma in funeral observances.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

During memorial rites or acts of charity in a departed person’s name, one may respectfully honor deserving recipients (including couples) and donate wearable clothing as a dharmic, compassionate offering.