Shloka 31

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

धूपो दीपो बलिर्गन्धः सर्वेषामस्तु चाक्षयः / दश पिण्डांस्तु दान्दत्त्वा विष्णोः सौम्यं मुखं स्मरेत्

Transliteration

dhūpo dīpo balirgandhaḥ sarveṣāmastu cākṣayaḥ / daśa piṇḍāṃstu dāndattvā viṣṇoḥ saumyaṃ mukhaṃ smaret

Translation

Mögen Weihrauch, Lampe, bali (Speiseopfer) und Duft für alle unerschöpflich sein. Und nachdem man die zehn Piṇḍas als Gabe dargebracht hat, gedenke man des sanften, glückverheißenden Antlitzes von Herrn Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• धूपः: incense
• धूपः: Karta (subject of अस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दीपः: lamp
• दीपः: Karta (subject of अस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलिः: offering (bali)
• बलिः: Karta (subject of अस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गन्धः: fragrance
• गन्धः: Karta (subject of अस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (of them)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive usage), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• अक्षयः: imperishable, inexhaustible
• अक्षयः: Karta (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धूपः/दीपः/बलिः/गन्धः—समाहारार्थे)

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पिण्डान्)

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: indeed)

• दान्: gifts/charities
• दान्: Karma (object of gerund)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; (पाठभेद/सन्धिः: दान् + दत्त्वा)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सौम्यम्: gentle, auspicious
• सौम्यम्: Karma (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मुखम्)

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate upon
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Concluding segment after piṇḍa-dāna; with dhūpa-dīpa-bali-gandha and final smaraṇa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After fulfilling offerings, fix the mind on Viṣṇu’s saumya mukha; devotion sanctifies and ‘seals’ the rite, orienting the heart toward the highest refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa as sādhana: turning from transient rites to the eternal Lord; īśvara-prapatti (surrender) as peace-giving culmination.

Application: Conclude duty-bound rituals with remembrance of Viṣṇu (or chosen iṣṭa-devatā); cultivate a gentle, sattvic mind during bereavement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8.30 (ten piṇḍas); Garuda Purana bhakti passages praising Viṣṇu-nāma and smaraṇa as purifier

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of pinda-dāna (piṇḍa offering) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links piṇḍa-dāna with sustaining benefit (akṣaya) and directs the performer to complete the rite with remembrance of Viṣṇu, indicating that ritual offering and devotional recollection together support the departed and purify the giver.

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

By prescribing offerings (dhūpa, dīpa, bali, gandha) and ten piṇḍas, the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s preta-kriyā framework—supporting the departed during the transitional post-death state while anchoring the rite in Viṣṇu-smaraṇa for spiritual auspiciousness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform remembrance of the Divine alongside any ancestral rites: make offerings with sincerity, give charity in the name of the departed, and cultivate Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (calm, compassionate awareness) as the ethical and devotional core of the practice.