Shloka 66

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

मृतस्यैव पुनः कुर्यात्प्रेतो ऽक्षय्यमवाप्नुयात् / प्रतिमासं घटा देया सोदना जलपूरिताः

Transliteration

mṛtasyaiva punaḥ kuryātpreto 'kṣayyamavāpnuyāt / pratimāsaṃ ghaṭā deyā sodanā jalapūritāḥ

Translation

Persembahan itu hendaknya diulang khusus bagi yang telah wafat; dengan demikian preta memperoleh manfaat yang tak binasa. Setiap bulan berikan sedekah kendi-kendi air yang penuh, disertai nasi/ makanan yang telah dimasak.

Word by Word

• मृतस्य: of the deceased
• मृतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: मृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — ‘of the dead (person)’

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Niyama (Restriction/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणे (emphasis/only)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति-अर्थे

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should do’

• प्रेतः: the preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — subject of अवाप्नुयात्

• अक्षय्यम्: the imperishable (benefit/state)
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — object of अवाप्नुयात्

• अवाप्नुयात्: would obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘would obtain/should obtain’

• प्रतिमासम्: every month
• प्रतिमासम्: Kāla-adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः — ‘every month’ (adverbial accusative)

• घटाः: pots
• घटाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — subject of देयाः

• देयाः: should be given
• देयाः: Kriyā (Injunctive obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: दा-धातोः तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थे विधेय-विशेषणम्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘to be given/should be given’ (agreeing with घटाः)

• स-ओदनाः: with cooked rice
• स-ओदनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ओदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सह-तत्पुरुषः (ओदनेन सह) — qualifying घटाः

• जलपूरिताः: filled with water
• जलपूरिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल + पूरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from पूर्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (जलेन पूरिताः/जलस्य पूरिताः) — qualifying घटाः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Pratimāsam (every month).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Akṣaya-phala through repeated offerings for the deceased; monthly kumbha-dāna with water and food as sustaining charity.

Vedantic Theme: Dāna and pitṛ-yajña as purifying karma that supports subtle welfare; ‘akṣaya’ as enduring fruit within dharmic order.

Application: Perform monthly offerings for the departed; donate water-pots filled with water along with cooked food (anna-dāna) as a regular practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual and charity setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ghaṭānna and kumbha-dāna prescriptions (2.26.64-67); Garuda Purana: akṣaya-phala language recurring in śrāddha/dāna contexts

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Deceased (mṛta)

FAQs

What is the importance of monthly ghaṭa-dāna (water-pot donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that donating water-filled pots each month—along with food—supports the departed (preta) and yields akṣaya (inexhaustible) spiritual benefit for them.

How does this verse explain helping the soul after death?

It teaches that repeating prescribed post-death rites specifically for the deceased aids the preta’s onward condition, indicating that ritual support and charity can generate lasting benefit for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform memorial rites with sincerity and add regular charity—especially water and food donations—in the name of the departed, aligning remembrance with compassionate giving.