Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 68

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

एवं वै क्रियमाणानां तेषां चैव द्विजन्मनाम् / कश्चिज्जलान्नविक्षेपः शुचिरुच्छिष्ट एव वा

Transliteration

evaṃ vai kriyamāṇānāṃ teṣāṃ caiva dvijanmanām / kaścijjalānnavikṣepaḥ śucirucchiṣṭa eva vā

Translation

このように諸儀礼が行われている間—とりわけ二度生まれ（dvija）によって—水や食を軽々しく撒き散らしてはならない。清浄のうちに行い、決してウッチシタ（ucchiṣṭa、食後の残穢）にあるまま行ってはならない。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः, निश्चयार्थे

• क्रियमाणानाम्: of those being performed (rites)
• क्रियमाणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → क्रियमाण (वर्तमानकृदन्तः, कर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present passive participle)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, अवधारणे

• द्विजन्मनाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजन्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः: द्विजन्मन् = द्विज (द्विर्जन्म यस्य/द्विवारं जन्म) (रूढिः)

• कश्चित्: someone / some
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम

• जल: water
• जल: Sambandha (Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकम्; समासपूर्वपदम्

• अन्न: food
• अन्न: Sambandha (Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकम्; समासपूर्वपदम्

• विक्षेपः: scattering/throwing of water and food
• विक्षेपः: Karta (Subject/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि+क्षिप् (धातु) → विक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: जल-अन्न-विक्षेपः (द्वन्द्वपूर्वपदसमाहार/समुच्चयार्थः) = जलस्य च अन्नस्य च विक्षेपः

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• उच्छिष्टः: leftover / defiled by remnants
• उच्छिष्टः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, अवधारणे

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and restraint are essential during rites; avoid random scattering of water/food and avoid acting while ucchiṣṭa (post-eating impurity).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi); disciplined action supports sattva and effective saṃskāra.

Application: During śrāddha (and sacred acts generally), maintain cleanliness, avoid casual disposal, and observe purity rules (ācāra) especially for dvija performers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (śrāddha site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.65-67 (effects on beings; piṇḍa nourishment); Garuda Purana 2.10.69 (proper śrāddha nourishes lineage)

Characters & Entities

• Dvijanmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca) in Garuda Purana death rites?

This verse stresses that when rites for the departed are underway, actions must be done in a state of purity; careless handling of food/water or acting while ucchiṣṭa is treated as improper for the rite’s sanctity.

How does this verse relate to offerings for the departed (piṇḍa/udaka) in the Garuda Purana?

By forbidding casual scattering of water and food during the performance, it implies offerings must be intentional and properly handled, preserving the correctness of udaka and anna-related ritual acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During ancestral or funeral observances, maintain cleanliness, avoid eating mid-ritual, and handle offerings respectfully—treating them as sacred acts rather than casual disposal.