Shloka 24

Preta-bhāva: Causes, Remedies, and the Rationale of Post-death Rites

Question-Catalogue

Devanagari script

श्राद्धानि षोडशैतानि अब्दं यावत्कुतो वद / अन्नादिचोदकेनैव षष्ट्यधिकशतत्रयम्

Transliteration

śrāddhāni ṣoḍaśaitāni abdaṃ yāvatkuto vada / annādicodakenaiva ṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatrayam

Translation

ഈ പതിനാറു ശ്രാദ്ധങ്ങള്‍—ഒരു വര്‍ഷം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാകുന്നതുവരെ എങ്ങനെ, എന്തുകൊണ്ട് നടത്തണം എന്ന് പറയുക. അന്നാദിയും ഉദക-തര്‍പ്പണവും മാത്രം കൊണ്ടുതന്നെ മൂന്നു നൂറും, അതില്‍ അറുപത് അധികവും (കര്‍മ്മങ്ങള്‍) എന്നു പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (here as numeral qualifier)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• अब्दम्: a year
• अब्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यावत्: up to; as long as
• यावत्: Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक (as long as/up to)

• कुतः: why/from where
• कुतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय/प्रश्न)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक (whence/why)

• वद: tell/say
• वद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अन्नादिचोदकेन: by means of the arranger of food etc.
• अन्नादिचोदकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + आदि + चोदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: अन्नादीनां चोदकेन (one who prompts/arranges food etc.; or 'with the prompter/arranger of food etc.')

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (only/indeed)

• षष्ट्यधिकशतत्रयम्: three hundred and sixty
• षष्ट्यधिकशतत्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि + अधिक + शत + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (संख्यासमाहार): शतत्रयम् (300) + षष्ट्यधिकम् (plus 60) = 360

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Through the first year after death; includes the ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha sequence and extended anna-udaka offerings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Continuity of obligation to the departed through structured, time-bound śrāddha sequences; ritual accounting as dharmic discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory orderliness; remembrance of impermanence through recurring rites.

Application: Maintain a memorial calendar: perform prescribed śrāddhas through the first year; keep records and ensure anna-udaka offerings are done consistently per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual calendar/year-cycle context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.28 (enumeration of śrāddhas; annual completion); Garuda Purana subsequent chapters listing monthly/annual śrāddhas (recension-dependent)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the sixteen śrāddhas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the sixteen śrāddhas as a structured set of post-death rites extending through the first year, emphasizing orderly, dharmic support to the departed and the Pitṛs through prescribed offerings.

Why does the verse mention ‘three hundred and sixty’ with food and water offerings?

It points to a comprehensive cycle of offerings (food and water) associated with a full year’s observances, highlighting the sustained, time-bound nature of śrāddha-related support rather than a single-day ritual.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain continuity and sincerity in remembrance: perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa according to one’s tradition and capacity, ensuring offerings are made with faith, purity, and responsibility to family dharma.