Shloka 63

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

कर्तव्यं वैष्णवं श्राद्धं प्रेतमुक्त्यर्थ मात्मवान् / प्रेतंमोक्षं ततः कुर्याद्धृदि विष्णुं प्रकल्प्य च

Transliteration

kartavyaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ śrāddhaṃ pretamuktyartha mātmavān / pretaṃmokṣaṃ tataḥ kuryāddhṛdi viṣṇuṃ prakalpya ca

Translation

Ein Selbstbeherrschter soll zum Zwecke der Befreiung des Preta ein vaiṣṇavisches Śrāddha vollziehen. Danach bewirke er dessen Erlösung, indem er Viṣṇu im Herzen innerlich verankert.

Word by Word

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Karma (Object/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Tavya-pratyaya (Potential Participle)

• vaiṣṇavam: related to Vishnu
• vaiṣṇavam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Taddhita (AN-pratyaya)

• śrāddham: Shraddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (श्राद्ध)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• pretamuktyartham: for the liberation of the ghost
• pretamuktyartham: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pretamuktyartha (प्रेतमुक्त्यर्थ)
• Form: Adverbial Compound (Chaturthi-Tatpurusha sense)

• ātmavān: one who is self-possessed/wise
• ātmavān: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmavat (आत्मवत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Matup-pratyaya

• pretamokṣam: liberation of the ghost
• pretamokṣam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pretamokṣa (प्रेतमोक्ष)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adverb
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Tasil-pratyaya

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (हृद्)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• viṣṇum: Lord Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• prakalpya: having imagined/placed
• prakalpya: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prakalp (प्रकल्प)
• Form: Lyap-pratyaya (Absolutive)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha performed for preta-mukti (typically within post-death rite cycle; exact day not specified here).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-mukti is sought through Vaiṣṇava śrāddha and internal establishment (hṛdaya-dhāraṇā) of Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a liberating force; īśvara-smaraṇa purifies karma and directs the jīva toward auspicious gati.

Application: Perform śrāddha with Viṣṇu-centered intention (mantra, nāma, dhyāna), cultivating self-control and compassion rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (śrāddha setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Vaiṣṇava śrāddha passages emphasizing Viṣṇu-smaraṇa for preta-śānti/mukti; Continuation in 2.40.64 with ‘Om Viṣṇu’ remembrance and antyeṣṭi procedure

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaiṣṇava śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that a Vaiṣṇava śrāddha should be performed specifically for the preta’s release, emphasizing devotion to Viṣṇu as a liberating support within the rite.

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

It implies that the departed may exist as a preta needing ‘mukti’ (release), and that ritual support combined with inner Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (establishing Viṣṇu in the heart) aids the transition toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites with sincerity and ethical self-discipline, and add focused remembrance of Viṣṇu (prayer/mental worship) as an inner offering alongside the external śrāddha.