Shloka 153

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

कर्तव्यं वैष्णवं श्राद्धं प्रेतमुक्त्यर्थमात्मनः / प्रेतमोक्षं ततः कुर्याद्धृदि विष्णुं प्रकल्प्यच

Transliteration

kartavyaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ śrāddhaṃ pretamuktyarthamātmanaḥ / pretamokṣaṃ tataḥ kuryāddhṛdi viṣṇuṃ prakalpyaca

Translation

One should perform a Vaiṣṇava śrāddha for the release of the departed spirit from the preta state. Thereafter, one should accomplish the preta’s liberation by establishing Lord Viṣṇu within the heart as the rite’s inner focus.

Word by Word

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done/should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhana (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्तः (कर्तव्य = to be done), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• वैष्णवम्: Vaishnava (pertaining to Vishnu)
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• प्रेतमुक्त्यर्थम्: for the liberation of the departed spirit
• प्रेतमुक्त्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुक्त्यर्थम् = for the sake of liberation; प्रेतस्य मुक्त्यर्थम्)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आत्मन्), षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• प्रेतमोक्षम्: release of the departed spirit
• प्रेतमोक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतस्य मोक्षः)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (thereafter)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• प्रकल्प्य: having visualized/installed
• प्रकल्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु) → प्रकल्प्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त (absolutive), ‘having imagined/placed/visualized’

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

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Preta-śrāddha period aimed at preta-mukti (commonly within the post-death sequence)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-mukti is sought through Vaiṣṇava śrāddha, crowned by bhāvanā—installing Viṣṇu in the heart.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as upāya: remembrance/inner contemplation of the Lord purifies karma and directs the jīva toward auspicious gati.

Application: Perform śrāddha with Vaiṣṇava orientation (Viṣṇu-centered sankalpa, offerings, and remembrance), maintaining concentrated inner devotion rather than mere external form.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: inner sacred space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.152 (supportive dānas); Garuda Purana 2.4.154 (funeral/effigy rites)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaiṣṇava śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that a Viṣṇu-centered (Vaiṣṇava) śrāddha is to be performed specifically to secure the preta’s release, making devotion to Viṣṇu the core intention of the rite.

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

It implies that the departed may exist as a preta needing ‘mukti’ and that liberation is supported through prescribed śrāddha, empowered by inner remembrance/installation of Viṣṇu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, keep the practice Viṣṇu-centered—combine correct ritual action with sincere inner contemplation of Viṣṇu as the guiding refuge for the departed.