Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

सर्वदानाधिकञ्चैतन्महापातकनाशनम् / कर्तव्यं श्रद्धया राजन्प्रेतत्वविनिवृत्तये

Transliteration

sarvadānādhikañcaitanmahāpātakanāśanam / kartavyaṃ śraddhayā rājanpretatvavinivṛttaye

Translation

ഈ ദാനം എല്ലാ ദാനങ്ങളിലുമേറ്റവും ശ്രേഷ്ഠം; മഹാപാതകങ്ങളെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുമാണ്. അതുകൊണ്ട്, ഹേ രാജാവേ, പ്രേതത്വനിവൃത്തിക്കായി ഇത് ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; ‘सर्वदान’ इत्यत्र विशेषणम्

• दान: gift, donation
• दान: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, समासपूर्वपद

• अधिकम्: superior, greater
• अधिकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (एतत्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम्

• एतत्: this (act)
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• महापातक: great sin
• महापातक: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (महच्च तत् पातकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (नाशनम् इत्यस्य)

• नाशनम्: destroyer, removal
• नाशनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; √नश्/√नाश्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विधेयम्

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्) ‘कर्तव्य’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (एतत्)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

• प्रेतत्व: state of being a preta
• प्रेतत्व: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/तद्धित-निर्मित (प्रेतस्य भावः ‘त्व’); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (विनिवृत्तये इत्यस्य)

• विनिवृत्तये: for cessation/removal
• विनिवृत्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनिवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; वि-नि-√वृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing the listener as 'O King' in the narrative style)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As a faith-performed remedial rite within death-related observances to prevent/terminate preta-state.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A specific mahādāna functions as powerful expiation, destroying even mahāpātakas and preventing preta-state; śraddhā is essential for fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic bondage can be attenuated through dharmic action supported by faith; purification prepares for higher pursuit (mokṣa).

Application: When facing grave wrongdoing or fear of consequences, adopt sincere corrective action: confession, restitution, disciplined charity, and sustained ethical reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.27.57-59 (the rite’s components); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes on preta-state and remedies (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of this teaching in the Garuda Purana?

It declares a specific prescribed rite (performed with shraddhā) as the highest form of giving and as capable of destroying major sins, with the direct aim of ending the preta-condition after death.

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

It implies that without proper faith-filled observances, a departed being may remain in a preta-like state; the recommended act functions as a remedial rite to restore progress beyond that liminal condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death duties and charitable acts with sincerity (not mechanically), focusing on compassionate giving and proper shraddha observance as a dharmic support for the departed and moral purification for the living.