Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

एकादशाहप्रभृति पुरतः प्रतिवत्सरम् / विश्वेदेवांस्तु सम्पूज्य पिण्डमेकञ्च निर्वपेत्

Transliteration

ekādaśāhaprabhṛti purataḥ prativatsaram / viśvedevāṃstu sampūjya piṇḍamekañca nirvapet

Translation

第十一日の儀礼より始め、以後は毎年、まずヴィシュヴェデーヴァ（Viśvedevas）を丁重に供養し、そののち前方に、亡き者のためにピンダ（piṇḍa、供養の飯団子）を一つ供えるべきである。

Word by Word

• एकादशाहप्रभृति: from the eleventh day onward
• एकादशाहप्रभृति: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकादशाह-प्रभृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable) meaning 'starting from the eleventh day'

• पुरतः: in front (of)
• पुरतः: देशाधिकरण (Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (adverb: 'in front/before')

• प्रतिवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रतिवत्सरम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति-वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग 'every year/annually'

• विश्वेदेवान्: the Viśvedevas (all-gods)
• विश्वेदेवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वे-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास ('all the gods' as a class: Viśvedevas), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural object of सम्पूज्य

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having worshipped'

• पिण्डम्: a rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative object of निर्वपेत्

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with पिण्डम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• निर्वपेत्: should offer/place (as oblation)
• निर्वपेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + √वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: From ekādaśāha onward; then annually (prativatsaram).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: From the eleventh day onward and annually, worship Viśvedevas first, then offer one piṇḍa for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Smṛti-based continuity of obligations (ṛṇa) to ancestors; ritual remembrance as a stabilizing dharmic practice within saṃsāra.

Application: Perform annual śrāddha: begin with Viśvedeva-pūjā, then offer a single piṇḍa in the prescribed place/orientation as per family tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: domestic ritual front (purataḥ)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.64 (ekādaśāha rite); Garuda Purana śrāddha chapters on Viśvedevas as śrāddha-devatā and piṇḍa offerings; Garuda Purana annual śrāddha/abdikā instructions

Characters & Entities

• Vishvedevas
• Pitris
• Departed ancestor (preta)

FAQs

What is the importance of the eleventh-day (ekādaśāha) rite in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the eleventh-day observance as the starting point for ongoing ancestral rites, establishing a regular pattern of offerings meant for the departed’s welfare and Pitṛ-related duties.

Why are the Viśvedevas worshipped before offering the piṇḍa?

The verse prescribes honoring the Viśvedevas first, indicating that śrāddha offerings are to be made through proper divine invocation so the piṇḍa-offering becomes ritually effective for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent remembrance and duty toward ancestors through annual śrāddha or equivalent acts of gratitude and charity, performed with reverence and disciplined regularity.