Shloka 16

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच / छत्त्रोपानहवस्त्राणि मुद्रिका च कमण्डलुः / आसनं भाजनं चैव पदं सप्तविधं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

śrībhagavānuvāca / chattropānahavastrāṇi mudrikā ca kamaṇḍaluḥ / āsanaṃ bhājanaṃ caiva padaṃ saptavidhaṃ smṛtam

Translation

ശ്രീഭഗവാൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—ചത്രം, ഉപാനഹം (പാദുക), വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ, മുദ്രിക (മോതിരം), കമണ്ഡലു, ആസനം, ഭാജനം—ഇവയാണ് ഏഴുവിധ ‘പദ’ങ്ങളെന്ന് സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• श्रीभगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• श्रीभगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + भगवान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• छत्त्र: umbrella
• छत्त्र: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as member of list)

• उपानह: footwear; sandals
• उपानह: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानह्/उपानत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as member of list)

• वस्त्राणि: garments
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुद्रिका: ring; seal-ring
• मुद्रिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• कमण्डलुः: water-pot (kamandalu)
• कमण्डलुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आसनम्: seat
• आसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भाजनम्: vessel; bowl
• भाजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed; also
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• पदम्: the set/item (pada)
• पदम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्तविधम्: sevenfold; of seven kinds
• सप्तविधम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तविध (प्रातिपदिक: सप्त + विध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि/भावार्थे: ‘is declared/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrī Bhagavān)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: during śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-associated gifting sequences as prescribed in the tradition

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific material offerings—umbrella, footwear, garments, ring, water-pot, seat, vessel—constitute a recognized set of supports.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma expressed through tangible acts; subtle efficacy of dravya when offered with right intention and vidhi.

Application: Prepare and offer prescribed items (or their sanctioned equivalents) during śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related rites with proper sankalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-instruction context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: further enumeration of padas and their fruits for the preta; Garuda Purana śrāddha chapters: lists of dravya and their symbolic utility on the journey

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the sevenfold provisions (sapta-vidha pada) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists a traditional set of seven essential items to be offered as dāna, symbolically ensuring comfort, dignity, and ritual support for the departed on the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda narrative, the departed is envisioned as needing supports on the way; these items function as ritual substitutes—provisions offered by the living to aid the preta in its transitional passage.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related charity with sincerity—offering useful essentials (or their equivalent) in a dharmic way—while treating the act as compassionate support for the departed and as ethical self-discipline for the living.