Shloka 47

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

मृतमुद्दिश्य दातव्यं शय्याधेन्वादिकं तथा / विप्रान्बहून् भोजयीत प्रेतस्य क्षुद्विशान्तये

Transliteration

mṛtamuddiśya dātavyaṃ śayyādhenvādikaṃ tathā / viprānbahūn bhojayīta pretasya kṣudviśāntaye

Translation

Keeping the departed in mind, one should give gifts such as a bed, a cow, and the like; and one should feed many brāhmaṇas, to pacify the hunger of the preta.

Word by Word

• मृतम्: the dead person (corpse)
• मृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• उद्दिश्य: having in view; addressing (the dead)
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्+दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having indicated/with reference to’

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यता (obligation)

• शय्या: bed
• शय्या: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• धेनु: cow
• धेनु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• आदिकम्: and other such items
• आदिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आदि’ (etc.)-अर्थक; (शय्या+धेनु+आदिकम्) समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपसंहारार्थ (also/likewise)

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मपद

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (विप्रान्)

• भोजयीत: should feed (cause to eat)
• भोजयीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच् causative: भोजय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• प्रेतस्य: of the departed spirit
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• क्षुत्: hunger
• क्षुत्: Sambandha (Genitive-in-compound/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• विशान्तये: for the pacification (cessation) of hunger
• विशान्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि+शम् (धातु) → शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/dative), एकवचन; (क्षुत्+विशान्ति) = ‘hunger’s pacification’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-śānti through dāna and brāhmaṇa-bhojana; ritual charity as a bridge of support to the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra: righteous action (dāna/śrāddha) as dharmic duty sustaining cosmic order and aiding the jīva’s transition.

Application: Offer appropriate gifts (e.g., śayyā, dhenu) and feed multiple brāhmaṇas with the sankalpa for the departed, explicitly intending ‘kṣut-śānti’ (pacification of hunger).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.5 (sequence of preta-śrāddhas and dānas); Garuda Purana sections on śrāddha-dāna and brāhmaṇa-bhojana as preta-upakāra

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding brāhmaṇas in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states it is done specifically to calm the preta’s hunger, making the rite supportive for the departed in the interim post-death state.

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

It implies a preta-stage in which the departed is described as experiencing hunger; prescribed gifts and feeding are meant to bring relief during this transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform memorial charity in the departed’s name—offer food to qualified recipients and give meaningful donations—while keeping the intent of compassion and dharma central.