Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 53

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

नारायणेति सन्नाम संपुटस्थं समर्चयेत् / एवं कृत्वाथ विधिवच्छुभाशुभफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇeti sannāma saṃpuṭasthaṃ samarcayet / evaṃ kṛtvātha vidhivacchubhāśubhaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

清められた結界の内に置かれた供物を、真実の御名「ナーラーヤナ」を唱えて、法にかなって礼拝すべきである。かく規定どおりに行えば、業に応じて吉凶の果報を得る。

Word by Word

• नारायण: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण: Karma (Object within quotation/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मन्त्र/नामरूपेण (as the name)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• सन्नाम: the auspicious name
• सन्नाम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्-नाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सत् नाम = auspicious name)

• संपुटस्थम्: placed in the container (saṃpuṭa)
• संपुटस्थम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संपुट-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (संपुटे स्थितम् = placed in the casket/container)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship/should honor
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• कृत्वा: having done (so)
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): ‘having done’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधिवत्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि + वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (in accordance with rule/rite)

• शुभाशुभफलम्: the fruit (result) of good and bad (deeds)
• शुभाशुभफलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ-अशुभ-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (शुभं च अशुभं च) + तत्पुरुष (फलम्)

• लभेत्: would obtain/should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within preta-oriented śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual performed ‘vidhivat’ with Nārayana-nāma yields karmically ordained results—śubha and aśubha—according to rule and intention.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smaraṇa within karma-kāṇḍa: devotion sanctifies action; fruits arise by niyati/karma while the Name purifies the doer.

Application: During the rite, worship the offering placed in the consecrated enclosure while uttering ‘Nārāyaṇa’; follow procedure precisely to ensure proper fruition and purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure (saṃpuṭa/maṇḍala-like consecrated space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on Viṣṇu-nāma in śrāddha/preta contexts (name as purifier and protector); Garuda Purana: vidhivat-kriyā and phala (śubha/aśubha) discussions in Pretakalpa

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting “Nārāyaṇa” in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents “Nārāyaṇa” as the sat-nāma (true sacred Name) to be invoked while performing worship/rites, indicating that the rite gains validity and efficacy when done with the divine Name and correct procedure.

How does this verse explain karmic results (śubhāśubha-phala) in the after-death context?

It states that when the prescribed act is performed vidhivat, the doer inevitably receives results in accordance with karma—both auspicious (merit) and inauspicious (demerit)—highlighting the Garuda Purana theme of precise moral causality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform spiritual duties with correctness (vidhi) and sincerity, and keep the mind anchored in a divine remembrance (such as the Name “Nārāyaṇa”), while recognizing that actions reliably bear ethical consequences.