Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 16

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

मध्ये तृतीयां विन्यस्य पश्चादावाहनादिकम् / आवाहनादिना पूर्वं विश्वेदेवान्प्रपूज्यच

Transliteration

madhye tṛtīyāṃ vinyasya paścādāvāhanādikam / āvāhanādinā pūrvaṃ viśvedevānprapūjyaca

Translation

Placing the third offering in the middle, one should then perform the rites beginning with invocation (āvāhana) and the rest. And before commencing the invocation and related acts, one should first duly worship the Viśvedevas as well.

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तृतीयाम्: the third (one)
• तृतीयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• विन्यस्य: having placed/arranged
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-आस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having arranged/placed'

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: afterwards)

• आवाहन-आदिकम्: invocation and related rites
• आवाहन-आदिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक; आ-√वह् धातु) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—आवाहनं आदिः यस्य तत् (invocation etc.)

• आवाहन-आदिना: by (the acts) beginning with invocation
• आवाहन-आदिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'by means of invocation etc.'

• पूर्वम्: first/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: beforehand/first)

• विश्वे-देवान्: the Viśvedevas (all the gods)
• विश्वे-देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—विश्वे देवाः (the All-gods, Viśvedevas)

• प्रपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• प्रपूज्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having worshipped'

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Transition into āvāhana-ādi upacāras; Viśvedevas pūjā performed beforehand

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual sequencing: establish offerings, then perform āvāhana and related upacāras; prior to invocation, worship Viśvedevas to ensure wholeness and correctness.

Vedantic Theme: Order (krama) and universality: dharmic action becomes ‘complete’ when aligned with the whole (sarva-devatā-sammati), supporting inner integration.

Application: In śrāddha, place offerings correctly, then proceed with āvāhana/upacāras; begin by honoring Viśvedevas as a preparatory worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual altar/mandala space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (Viśvedevas worship as prerequisite; āvāhana-ādi upacāra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvedevas

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping the Viśvedevas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Viśvedeva worship as a prerequisite to the main śrāddha actions, indicating they are invoked to sanctify and support the rite before āvāhana and subsequent procedures begin.

How does this verse guide the correct order of śrāddha rituals?

It specifies a sequence: arrange the third portion in the middle, then proceed with āvāhana and related steps—while ensuring Viśvedevas are worshipped first, prior to the invocation sequence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestral rites, follow a disciplined order: prepare offerings carefully, begin with preliminary deity worship (especially Viśvedevas in śrāddha contexts), and only then proceed to invocation and the rest of the ritual steps.