Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

चकार विधिवत्पक्षिन्नौर्ध्वदेहादिकं विधिम् / तस्य पुण्यप्रदानेन प्रेतो मुक्तो दिवं ययौ

Transliteration

cakāra vidhivatpakṣinnaurdhvadehādikaṃ vidhim / tasya puṇyapradānena preto mukto divaṃ yayau

Translation

ഓ പക്ഷീ (ഗരുഡാ)! അവൻ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ഊർധ്വദേഹാദി കർമങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു; ആ പുണ്യപ്രദാനഫലത്തിൽ പ്രേതൻ മോചിതനായി സ്വർഗത്തിലേക്ക് പോയി।

Word by Word

• cakāra: did, performed
• cakāra: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vidhivat: properly, as prescribed
• vidhivat: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-vat (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): according to rule/rite

• pakṣinā: by/with (the help of) the bird
• pakṣinā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/सहकारक-भावे

• ūrdhvadehādikam: beginning with the ūrdhvadeha (rite) etc.
• ūrdhvadehādikam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva + deha + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ऊर्ध्वदेहः आदिः यस्य तत् (rites beginning with ūrdhvadeha)

• vidhim: the rite, procedure
• vidhim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tasya: of him/that (king)
• tasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• puṇyapradānena: by the giving of merit (pious gift)
• puṇyapradānena: Karana (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya + pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पुण्यस्य प्रदानम्

• pretaḥ: the preta
• pretaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• muktaḥ: freed, released
• muktaḥ: Visheshana (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √muc (धातु) → mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-विशेषण

• divam: to heaven
• divam: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (destination)

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-funeral sequence implied (‘ūrdhva-deha’ and allied rites)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper post-death rites (ūrdhva-deha etc.) generate merit that can be dedicated to the departed, enabling liberation from preta-state and ascent to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra as purificatory means; the subtle body’s transition aided by dharmic action; compassionate agency within cosmic order.

Application: Perform antyeṣṭi and subsequent śrāddha/ūrdhva-deha rites according to tradition with qualified guidance; dedicate merit with sincere intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (home/cremation-rite context implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ūrdhva-deha, preta-mokṣa through śrāddha themes (adjacent 2.27.65)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of ūrdhva-deha rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing the ūrdhva-deha and related post-death rites according to rule generates merit that directly aids the preta’s release from the preta state.

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

It presents a ritual-causal link: correct observances produce punya, and that merit helps the departed spirit (preta) become freed and move toward heavenly realms rather than remaining bound in an unsettled condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake funeral and śrāddha-related duties with care, sincerity, and proper procedure—treating them as ethical obligations (dharma) that support the departed and cultivate merit for the family.