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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

定められた供養は、亡き者のためにのみ改めて行うべきであり、これによりプレータは尽きぬ功徳を得る。毎月、水を満たした水壺を、炊いた食物とともに施すべし。

Word by Word
मृतस्यof the deceased
मृतस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeVerb
Rootमृ (धातु)
Formमृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — ‘of the dead (person)’
एवindeed, only
एव:
Niyama (Restriction/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारणे (emphasis/only)
पुनःagain
पुनः:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति-अर्थे
कुर्यात्should perform
कुर्यात्:
Kriyā (Action)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should do’
प्रेतःthe preta (departed spirit)
प्रेतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — subject of अवाप्नुयात्
अक्षय्यम्the imperishable (benefit/state)
अक्षय्यम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootअक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — object of अवाप्नुयात्
अवाप्नुयात्would obtain
अवाप्नुयात्:
Kriyā (Action)
TypeVerb
Rootअव + आप् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘would obtain/should obtain’
प्रतिमासम्every month
प्रतिमासम्:
Kāla-adhikarana (Time)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रति + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः — ‘every month’ (adverbial accusative)
घटाःpots
घटाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootघट (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — subject of देयाः
देयाःshould be given
देयाः:
Kriyā (Injunctive obligation)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formदा-धातोः तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थे विधेय-विशेषणम्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘to be given/should be given’ (agreeing with घटाः)
स-ओदनाःwith cooked rice
स-ओदनाः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ओदन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सह-तत्पुरुषः (ओदनेन सह) — qualifying घटाः
जलपूरिताःfilled with water
जलपूरिताः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootजल + पूरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from पूर्)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, 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
P
Preta
D
Deceased (mṛta)

FAQs

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.

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.

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.

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