Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 35

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

स्नातप्रियोक्तवाक्यात्तु सुस्नाता नमपालयत् / नभोमध्यगते सूर्ये काले कुतुप आगते

Transliteration

snātapriyoktavākyāttu susnātā namapālayat / nabhomadhyagate sūrye kāle kutupa āgate

Translation

Then, in accordance with the words spoken by the beloved one, and after bathing well, she duly observed the prescribed act of reverence. When the sun had reached mid-heaven, at the proper time—when the auspicious kutupa-muhūrta arrived—she performed it.

Word by Word

• स्नात: bathed
• स्नात: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नात (कृदन्त; धातु √स्ना)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिकरूप; समासपूर्वपदत्वात् अव्यक्त-विभक्ति

• प्रिय: dear, beloved
• प्रिय: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदत्वात् अव्यक्त-विभक्ति; विशेषण

• उक्त: spoken
• उक्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; धातु √वच्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), समासपूर्वपदत्वात् अव्यक्त-विभक्ति

• वाक्यात्: from the statement/words
• वाक्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• सुस्नाता: having bathed well
• सुस्नाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुस्नात (कृदन्त; धातु √स्ना, उपसर्ग सु-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• नम: a bow/salutation
• नम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अपालयत्: performed/observed (kept)
• अपालयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नभो: of the sky
• नभो: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (नभसः → नभो)

• मध्य: middle
• मध्य: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदत्वात् अव्यक्त-विभक्ति

• गते: when (it) had gone/being situated
• गते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; धातु √गम्)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• सूर्ये: in the sun (when the sun was)
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कुतुपे: at the Kutupa (auspicious time)
• कुतुपे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुतुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• आगते: having arrived
• आगते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगत (कृदन्त; धातु √गम्, उपसर्ग आ-)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Kutupa-muhūrta at madhyāhna (midday) after snāna

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla (proper time) and śauca (purity) as enablers of ritual fruit; obedience to prescribed vidhi.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a purifier (citta-śuddhi) preparing for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Perform ancestral rites/dāna after bathing, with attention to auspicious muhūrtas (especially kutupa), and with reverential intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha sections): praise of kutupa-muhūrta for śrāddha and dāna; Garuda Purana: emphasis on snāna and ācamana before rites

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of kutupa-kāla in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that rites done at midday, when kutupa-kāla arrives, are considered properly timed and thus ritually effective for śrāddha-related observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

It emphasizes correct preparation (bathing/purity) and correct timing (midday/kutupa) as essential conditions for performing prescribed reverential acts connected with post-death and ancestral rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain personal cleanliness and follow proper timing/traditional muhurta when performing śrāddha, tarpaṇa, or remembrance rituals, treating them with disciplined reverence.