Shloka 18

The Preta’s Staged Journey to Yama’s City: Monthly Śrāddha Supports, Vaitaraṇī Crossing, and the Witnesses of Deeds

Devanagari script

चतुर्थमासिके श्राद्धं भुक्ते तत्र सुखी भवेत्

Transliteration

caturthamāsike śrāddhaṃ bhukte tatra sukhī bhavet

Translation

നാലാം മാസിക ശ്രാദ്ധം അവിടെ ഭുജിച്ചാൽ പ്രേതൻ സുഖിയും ശാന്തനും ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थमासिके: at the fourth monthly (rite)
• चतुर्थमासिके: अधिकरण (Time/occasion)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ + मासिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय — 'fourth-monthly'

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha offering/rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म/अधिकरण (Object/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); here as object/occasion with भुक्ते (locative absolute sense)

• भुक्ते: when partaken
• भुक्ते: अधिकरण (Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भुक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — 'when (it) is eaten/partaken' (locative absolute)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (predicative)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Result)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Fourth month (caturtha māsika)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha performed at the proper time yields tangible benefit to the departed, producing sukha/śānti.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual action (karma-kāṇḍa) bears fruit across realms; interdependence of living and departed within dharmic order.

Application: Perform the fourth-month śrāddha punctually and with faith; include appropriate offerings so the departed is ‘āpyāyita’ (sustained).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly city station

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: māsika śrāddha benefits repeatedly stated in adjacent verses; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-phala sections elsewhere (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of the fourth-month Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the fourth-month Śrāddha, when accepted by the departed, brings him happiness and relief in his post-death condition.

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

It reflects the Garuda Purana’s teaching that periodic offerings (Śrāddha) materially benefit the departed being (preta) in the subtle realm, improving his comfort during the transitional afterlife period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe the prescribed post-death Śrāddha schedule with faith and correct procedure, treating it as a duty of gratitude that supports the departed and reinforces family dharma.