Shloka 16

Devanagari script

पलद्वयं प्रथमे ऽह्नि एकैकपलवृद्धितः / यावद्दिनानि पूर्णानि पलान्यष्टादशोत्तमे

Transliteration

paladvayaṃ prathame 'hni ekaikapalavṛddhitaḥ / yāvaddināni pūrṇāni palānyaṣṭādaśottame

Translation

On the first day it is two palas; then it increases by one pala each day, until the full number of days is completed—reaching eighteen palas at the end.

Word by Word

• पल-द्वयम्: two palas (a measure)
• पल-द्वयम्: Karma (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु—‘द्वे पले’

• प्रथमे: on the first (day)
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (Time-locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘प्रथमे (अह्नि)’

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• एक-एक-पल-वृद्धितः: by increasing one pala each time/day
• एक-एक-पल-वृद्धितः: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पल (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) — ‘एकैकपलवृद्ध्या’/‘प्रति दिनं एकेन पलेन वृद्ध्या’

• यावत्: until/as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-निर्देशक (until/as long as)

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: Adhikarana (Time-span/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• पूर्णानि: complete/full
• पूर्णानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पॄ ‘to fill’ → पूर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• पलानि: palas (measures)
• पलानि: Karma (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• अष्टादश-उत्तमे: at the maximum of eighteen
• अष्टादश-उत्तमे: Adhikarana (Limit/अवधि-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अष्टादशः उत्तमः (पर्यन्तः)’ = at the highest (limit) of eighteen

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Orderly regimen and measured increase (anupana/krama) as a principle of effective treatment and self-discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Niyama (regulated practice) and gradualism; steadiness through measured steps.

Application: Follow a titrated dosing schedule: start at two palas on day one, increase by one pala daily, culminating at eighteen palas by the final day (as per the regimen’s total duration).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.201 (dosage measurement in pala; regimen design and escalation)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of the increasing 'pala' count in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a structured day-by-day progression (starting from two palas and increasing by one daily) used to express a precise, ritualized accounting of time during post-death observances.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, the departed’s transitional period is described with careful sequencing; this verse supports that framework by specifying a graduated daily measure, reinforcing the idea that post-death rites follow an ordered timeline.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

It encourages performing post-death rites with consistency and discipline—observing the prescribed day-count and sequence rather than treating the observances as random or optional.