Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 78

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

सपत्नीकाय सम्पूज्य स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम् / वस्त्रैः सुशोभनैः पूज्य चैलकं परिधापयेत्

Transliteration

sapatnīkāya sampūjya svarlokasukhadāyinīm / vastraiḥ suśobhanaiḥ pūjya cailakaṃ paridhāpayet

Translation

Después de rendir culto debidamente al receptor junto con su esposa—ella que otorga la dicha de los mundos celestiales—debe honrársela con vestiduras finas y hermosas, y hacer que se le ponga un paño para vestir.

Word by Word

• सपत्नीकाय: to (the man) with his wife
• सपत्नीकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स-पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/दत्ते), एकवचन; ‘पत्नी सहितः’ इति कर्मधारय-समास

• सम्पूज्य: having fully worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having duly worshipped’

• स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम्: (her) who grants happiness in heaven
• स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्लोक + सुख + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘स्वर्लोकस्य सुखं ददाति’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासभावः

• वस्त्रैः: with garments
• वस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• सुशोभनैः: very beautiful
• सुशोभनैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘सु’ उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण

• पूज्य: having to worship / after worshipping
• पूज्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive); ‘to be worshipped / having to worship’ (विध्यर्थे)

• चैलकम्: a cloth/garment
• चैलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• परिधापयेत्: should make (her) wear / should put on
• परिधापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + धा (धातु)
• Form: णिच् (causative) + विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परिधापयेत् = ‘should cause to be worn / should put on’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within the eleventh-day sequence leading to ekādaśāha observance (contextual).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and honoring the couple (especially the patnī) as a dharmic act that yields svarga-sukha.

Vedantic Theme: Gṛhastha-dharma as a purifier of karma; honoring śakti/śrī as auspicious support for dharma.

Application: In rites of gifting (especially bed/household gifts), worship both husband and wife; offer clean, beautiful garments with respectful intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34 (tulā/śayyā-dāna and associated pūjā-vidhi context); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections emphasizing dāna as preta-hitakara (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Svarga (Svarloka)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering garments (vastra-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links honoring with fine clothing to the bestowal of ‘svarloka-sukha’ (heavenly well-being), presenting garment-giving as a meritorious act within śrāddha-related duties.

How does this verse fit into the Garuda Purana’s guidance on post-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual instructions, it emphasizes respectful worship and charitable gifting—specifically clothing—to generate auspicious results for the departed and uphold dharma in funeral observances.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

During memorial rites or acts of charity in a departed person’s name, one may respectfully honor deserving recipients (including couples) and donate wearable clothing as a dharmic, compassionate offering.