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

Man vollziehe fünf Śrāddha-Darbringungen für die Gottheiten nach Vorschrift; danach gieße man einen Wasserstrom (jaladhārā) an jedem Sitz (pīṭha) gesondert, einen nach dem anderen.

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.