Shloka 20

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

स्वस्तीत्येव तथाक्षय्यं जलं दत्त्वाथ तान्द्विजान् / विसर्जयेत्स्मरन्विष्णुं देवमष्टाक्षरं विभुम्

Transliteration

svastītyeva tathākṣayyaṃ jalaṃ dattvātha tāndvijān / visarjayetsmaranviṣṇuṃ devamaṣṭākṣaraṃ vibhum

Translation

Indem man «svasti» als segensreiche Zusprache spricht, soll man das unerschöpfliche Wasser (akṣayya) darbringen. Danach soll man jene Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas) ehrerbietig entlassen, während man an Herrn Viṣṇu denkt — das allgegenwärtige göttliche Wesen des acht-silbigen Mantras (aṣṭākṣara).

Word by Word

• स्वस्ति: ‘svasti’ (well-being!)
• स्वस्ति: Sambandha (Utterance/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वस्ति (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, आशीर्वाद-शब्द (benedictive particle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरणसूचक

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise)

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable/undiminishing
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having given’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रमसूचक

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्विजान्: Brahmins
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Kriya-vishesana (Concomitant action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषणरूपेण

• अष्टाक्षरम्: eight-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टाक्षरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• विभुम्: the all-pervading lord
• विभुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the conclusion: svasti-vācana, akṣayya-jala offering, then brāhmaṇa visarjana.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa of Viṣṇu sanctifies and seals ritual action; the ‘akṣayya’ offering symbolizes inexhaustible merit when joined with auspicious intent and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smaraṇa as purifier; nāma/mantra as support for steadiness of mind (citta-śuddhi) and orientation toward the all-pervading Brahman/Īśvara.

Application: End rites with a clear benediction and a moment of focused remembrance (japa/smaraṇa) rather than rushing; cultivate closure with gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (akṣayya-jala, visarjana, Viṣṇu-smaraṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dvijas (Brahmanas)
• Aṣṭākṣara-mantra

FAQs

What is the importance of akṣayya-jala (inexhaustible water) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents akṣayya-jala as a merit-bearing offering made with auspicious words (“svasti”), implying that the rite should conclude with a pure, imperishable-intent gift that supports the śrāddha’s spiritual efficacy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By directing the performer to remember Viṣṇu and the aṣṭākṣara mantra at the rite’s conclusion, the verse links post-death ritual action with devotional remembrance, a key support for the departed’s auspicious transition in the Preta-kāṇḍa framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Conclude offerings with respectful closure—blessing, a simple water offering, gratitude to officiants—and steady remembrance of Viṣṇu (or the aṣṭākṣara), emphasizing sincerity, purity, and dharmic completion of the rite.