Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 58

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

सर्वौषधियुतं प्रेतं कृत्वा पूजा यथोदिता / साग्निके (कैश्चा) चापि विधिना यज्ञपात्रं न्यसेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhiyutaṃ pretaṃ kṛtvā pūjā yathoditā / sāgnike (kaiścā) cāpi vidhinā yajñapātraṃ nyasetkramāt

Translation

បន្ទាប់ពីរៀបចំ «ព្រេត» (វិញ្ញាណអ្នកស្លាប់) ឲ្យមានស្មៅឱសថគ្រប់មុខរួមបញ្ចូល ហើយធ្វើបូជាតាមដែលបានបញ្ជាក់រួច ត្រូវដាក់ភាជនយញ្ញ (យញ្ញបាត្រ) តាមលំដាប់ ដោយវិធីត្រឹមត្រូវ—រួមទាំងពិធីដែលមានភ្លើងបរិសុទ្ធផងដែរ (តាមទំនៀមខ្លះ)។

Word by Word

• सर्वौषधियुतम्: endowed with all herbs
• सर्वौषधियुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-औषधि-युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Acc singular qualifying प्रेतम्; समासः तत्पुरुष (सर्वाभिः औषधिभिः युतम्)

• प्रेतम्: the departed spirit/preta
• प्रेतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Acc singular

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having done’

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom singular

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb ‘as/according to’

• उदिता: stated/declared
• उदिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-इ (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with पूजा; ‘as has been stated’

• साग्निके: in the (rite) with fire
• साग्निके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अग्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘with fire’ (sa + āgnika)

• कैः: with which (items)
• कैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural interrogative/relative; text uncertain (parenthetical)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (emphasis/addition)

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• यज्ञपात्रम्: sacrificial vessel
• यज्ञपात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य पात्रम्)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु; √अस् ‘to place’ with नि)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg optative; परस्मैपद

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Hetu/Avyaya-artha (अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular used adverbially ‘in order/stepwise’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within the prescribed śrāddha/pūjā sequence; optionally with agni-associated procedure

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kriyā performed in correct sequence (krama) and with prescribed substances is held to effect subtle purification and benefit for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Efficacy of karma when joined with śraddhā and vidhi; the unseen (adṛṣṭa) fruit of ritual action.

Application: Follow a validated prayoga: prepare the preta-representation with prescribed herbs, complete pūjā, then place yajña-pātra in correct order, especially when agni-rites are included.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space with sacred fire (agni-kunda)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 śrāddha-krama passages on preta-samskara, dravya-samgraha, agni-sambandha

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of using 'sarvauṣadhi' (all herbs) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse indicates a prescribed preparation of the preta with medicinal/herbal substances, implying ritual purity, protection, and completeness of the offering-process for the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: it focuses on the correct ritual handling of the preta, suggesting that orderly, rule-based rites support the preta’s transition and proper post-death journey as taught in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow authorized tradition (family/śāstric guidance) for funeral and śrāddha rites, emphasizing correct sequence, cleanliness, and sincerity rather than improvisation.