Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

सान्नाश्च सोदका देया घटाः प्रेतहिताय वै / शय्यादानमथो दत्त्वा घटं प्रेतस्य निर्वपेत्

Transliteration

sānnāśca sodakā deyā ghaṭāḥ pretahitāya vai / śayyādānamatho dattvā ghaṭaṃ pretasya nirvapet

Translation

പ്രേതഹിതത്തിനായി പാകം ചെയ്ത അന്നവും ജലവും നിറച്ച ഘടങ്ങൾ ദാനം ചെയ്യണം. ശയ്യാദാനം നൽകി ശേഷം പ്രേതനുവേണ്ടി ഒരു ഘടം സമർപ്പിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• सान्नाः: (pots) with food (anna)
• सान्नाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• सोदकाः: with water
• सोदकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सह उदकेन = with water)

• देयाः: should be given
• देयाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive: ‘to be given’)

• घटाः: pots
• घटाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्रेतहिताय: for the benefit of the preta
• प्रेतहिताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत-हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य हितम् = welfare of the preta)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शय्यादानम्: the gift of a bed
• शय्यादानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शय्यायाः दानम् = gift of a bed)

• अथो: then
• अथो: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon) + निपात (emphasis)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having given’

• घटम्: a pot
• घटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रेतस्य: of the preta
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• निर्वपेत्: should offer/should place as offering
• निर्वपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha context (preta-focused period)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and śrāddha-upacāra as obligatory support for the departed; material offerings become spiritual aid.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and supporter of the jīva’s post-mortem transition; compassion expressed as dharma.

Application: During śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related rites, give a pot with cooked food and water; perform śayyā-dāna; then dedicate a specific pot as ‘preta-ghaṭa’ for the departed’s welfare.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-vidhi and preta-upakāra sections around 2.27 (preta-ghaṭa, piṇḍa, udaka-dāna); Garuda Purana: discussions of dāna as remover of aśubha and as preta-tṛpti

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of offering food-and-water pots (ghata-dana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that pots filled with food and water should be given specifically for the preta’s welfare, indicating that annodaka-dāna is a key supportive rite for the departed.

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

By prescribing gifts of food, water, and a bed for the preta, the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s view that the departed benefits from post-death rites and donations performed by the living during the preta stage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related charity with intention: donate food and drinking water (or vessels for them) and, where appropriate, provide bedding/comfort items in memory of the departed as a dharmic act of support.