Shloka 37

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति ते सर्वे प्रत्यहं चैव वत्सरम् / एवमादिकृतैः पुण्यैः क्रमात्सौरिपुरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

tṛptiṃ prayānti te sarve pratyahaṃ caiva vatsaram / evamādikṛtaiḥ puṇyaiḥ kramātsauripuraṃ vrajet

Translation

All of them attain satisfaction each day, indeed, for a full year. By the merits gained through such acts and similar rites, one gradually proceeds to Sauripura, the city of Yama.

Word by Word

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction, contentment
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: they attain, they reach
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they, those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (ते इति)

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + अहन् (अव्ययीभाव-समास; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वत्सरम्: (for) a year
• वत्सरम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• आदि: and the like, etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासाङ्ग); 'etc.' अर्थे

• कृतैः: done, performed
• कृतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पुण्यैः इति)

• एवम्-आदि-कृतैः: by merits done in such and such ways, etc.
• एवम्-आदि-कृतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (एवमादि-), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पुण्यैः)

• पुण्यैः: by merits, by virtuous deeds
• पुण्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: gradually, in order
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (ablatival adverb); क्रमशः (in due order)

• सौरि-पुरम्: the city/abode of Sauri (Yama)
• सौरि-पुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सौरेः पुरम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: should go, may proceed
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily benefit stated for one year (pratyahaṃ… vatsa ram) within the post-death period.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya accrued through prescribed rites yields tangible post-mortem support and advances the soul along the Yama-mārga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati within saṃsāra; ritual action as auxiliary support (upakāraka) for the jīva’s journey.

Application: Perform śrāddha/pinda-dāna and allied rites with regularity and faith, understanding their stated time-bound benefit (daily satisfaction for a year).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pura/nagara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta’s year-long dependence on offerings and the Yama-mārga; Garuda Purana: śrāddha sections describing tṛpti to preta/pitṛs through piṇḍa and udaka

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Sauripura

FAQs

What is the importance of tṛpti (satisfaction) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse states that through prescribed rites (evam-ādi-kṛtaiḥ), the departed attain daily satisfaction for a year, indicating the intended supportive effect of Shraddha/Pinda offerings on the preta’s condition.

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

It presents the journey as gradual (kramāt): supported by accumulated merit from proper rites, the being proceeds toward Sauripura, identified here as Yama’s city/realm in the afterlife narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death duties conscientiously—Shraddha, charity, and related dharmic acts—understanding them as merit-generating supports for the departed and as disciplines that cultivate responsibility and remembrance in the living.