Shloka 46

Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey

Devanagari script

अन्नाद्येनोदकेनैव षष्ट्याधिकशतत्रयम् / दिनेदिने च दातव्यं घटान्नं प्रेततृप्तये

Transliteration

annādyenodakenaiva ṣaṣṭyādhikaśatatrayam / dinedine ca dātavyaṃ ghaṭānnaṃ pretatṛptaye

Translation

With food and with water alone, three hundred and sixty offerings are to be given; day after day one should offer a pot-measure of cooked rice, for the satisfaction of the preta, the departed spirit.

Word by Word

• अन्नाद्येन: with food and the like
• अन्नाद्येन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अन्नम्+आद्य) — ‘food etc.’

• उदकेन: with water
• उदकेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• षष्टि: sixty
• षष्टि: विशेषण/संख्या (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (sixty)

• अधिक: additional
• अधिक: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; ‘अधिक’ = more/extra; (समासाङ्ग)

• शत: hundred
• शत: विशेषण/संख्या (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (hundred)

• त्रयम्: three (hundreds)
• त्रयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (three)

• दिने: in a day
• दिने: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (day by day)

• च: and
• च: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction/and)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य (gerundive/भाव्य) — नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘should be given’

• घटान्नम्: a pot-measure of food
• घटान्नम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (घटस्य अन्नम्) — ‘pot-measure of food’

• प्रेततृप्तये: for the satisfaction of the departed spirit
• प्रेततृप्तये: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतस्य तृप्तिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily through the year (360 offerings)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regular, repeated offerings (anna and udaka) generate supportive karma for the departed; continuity matters more than extravagance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as causal support within saṃsāra; compassionate action (dayā) as purifying discipline for the doer.

Application: Maintain consistent daily remembrance/offerings within capacity; prioritize simple food-and-water giving and sincerity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-tṛpti through anna-udaka; daily/periodic śrāddha prescriptions across the first year

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of daily food and water offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames anna (food) and udaka (water) as the primary daily supports offered for the preta’s tṛpti (satisfaction), emphasizing continuity—“day by day”—as a dharmic duty in post-death rites.

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

By prescribing offerings specifically “for the preta,” the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s view that the departed exists in a transitional preta-state and is ritually aided through regular dana (giving) until further rites and destinations are attained.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform shraddha/tarpana as per one’s tradition, and at minimum practice charity in the departed’s name—offering food and water (or supporting feeding programs)—with the intention of remembrance and dharmic support.