Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 14
The Narrative of the Five Pretas
Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure
दक्षिणेन तु दद्याच्च तृतीयां दक्षिणायुताम् / यमायाङ्गिरसे चाथ स्वधा नम इति स्मरन्
dakṣiṇena tu dadyācca tṛtīyāṃ dakṣiṇāyutām / yamāyāṅgirase cātha svadhā nama iti smaran
Then, with the prescribed dakṣiṇā, one should offer the third oblation together with dakṣiṇā, remembering and reciting, “Svadhā—salutations,” for Yama and for Āṅgirasa.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Third oblation segment within śrāddha sequence
Concept: Offerings with dakṣiṇā are made acknowledging Yama and Āṅgirasa, affirming moral causality and ritual correctness in pitṛ-kārya.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala governance: dharma as cosmic order; ritual acts align the individual with ṛta/dharma, reducing fear through right action.
Application: When performing śrāddha, complete the prescribed third offering with dakṣiṇā and the correct dedicatory remembrance to Yama/Āṅgirasa.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: ritual-directional invocation within śrāddha
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (third offering; mention of Yama; sequence leading to feeding brāhmaṇas)
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that the oblation is not merely symbolic; it is to be accompanied by dakṣiṇā, completing the rite through respectful gifting that supports the ritual order and its officiation.
“Svadhā” is the traditional formula linked to Pitṛ-related offerings; here it is remembered while directing the offering to Yama and Āṅgirasa, aligning the rite with the departed’s post-death journey and the authorities of the afterlife/ancestral domain.
When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, pair ritual acts with sincere remembrance and ethical giving (dakṣiṇā/charity), treating the rite as both devotion and responsibility.