Shloka 2

Pretaśilā at Gayā: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gadādhara’s Manifestation, and the Fruits of Śrāddha & Deity-Worship

Devanagari script

धर्मेण धारिता भूत्यै सर्वदेवमयी शिला / प्रेतत्वं ये गता नॄणां मित्राद्या बान्धवादयः

Transliteration

dharmeṇa dhāritā bhūtyai sarvadevamayī śilā / pretatvaṃ ye gatā nṝṇāṃ mitrādyā bāndhavādayaḥ

Translation

Upheld by dharma for the sake of welfare, the sacred śilā is revered as embodying all the gods. The friends and other kinsmen of men who have entered the state of preta (departed spirit) are thus connected through such dharmic rites.

Word by Word

• धर्मेण: by/through dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मेण: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• धारिता: (is) upheld/sustained
• धारिता: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः ‘शिला’ इति

• भूत्यै: for prosperity/welfare
• भूत्यै: Sampradāna (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• सर्वदेवमयी: consisting of all gods
• सर्वदेवमयी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + देव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘शिला’

• शिला: stone (sacred slab)
• शिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रेतत्वम्: the state of being a preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धः ‘मित्राद्याः बान्धवादयः’

• गताः: have gone/attained
• गताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘ये’ इत्यस्य क्रियाविशेषणम्

• नॄणाम्: of men/people
• नॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• मित्राद्याः: friends and the like
• मित्राद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘ये’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-समूहः

• बान्धवादयः: relatives and others
• बान्धवादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘मित्राद्याः’ इत्यस्य समुच्चयः

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharmic supports (tīrtha/śilā) serve loka-bhūti (welfare) and connect the living to obligations toward departed kin in preta-bhāva.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and ṛṇa (ancestral debt) within vyavahāra; sacred loci as upāya within dharma for orderly passage and welfare.

Application: Treat ancestral rites as dharmic duty; approach sacred places/objects with reverence and perform prescribed offerings for departed relatives.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/śilā (sacred stone)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on Gayā-śrāddha and preta-uddhāra (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Devas (collectively via sarvadevamayī)
• Pretas
• Bāndhavas (relatives)

FAQs

What is the importance of the śilā (sacred stone) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse frames the śilā as “sarvadevamayī” (embodying all gods), implying that dharmic rites performed with it are treated as universally sacred and welfare-bearing for the departed.

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

It points to the “preta” phase—an intermediate departed condition—where the deceased remains connected to dharmic ritual support, especially through actions undertaken by friends and relatives.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Uphold dharma in end-of-life and memorial duties—perform rites with sincerity and ethical conduct, and support bereaved families, recognizing such acts as spiritually meaningful.