Shloka 40

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

पूजयेच्छुक्लपुष्पैश्च नैवेद्यैर्घृतपाचितैः / तथा गन्धैश्च धूपैश्च श्रुतिस्मृतिमनूदितैः

Transliteration

pūjayecchuklapuṣpaiśca naivedyairghṛtapācitaiḥ / tathā gandhaiśca dhūpaiśca śrutismṛtimanūditaiḥ

Translation

വെളുത്ത പുഷ്പങ്ങളാൽ പൂജ ചെയ്യുകയും നെയ്യിൽ പാകം ചെയ്ത നൈവേദ്യം സമർപ്പിക്കുകയും വേണം. അതുപോലെ സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങളും ധൂപവും കൊണ്ട്, ശ്രുതി-സ്മൃതി വിധിപ്രകാരം ആരാധിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• शुक्लपुष्पैः: with white flowers
• शुक्लपुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (शुक्लानि पुष्पाणि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings
• नैवेद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• घृतपाचितैः: cooked in ghee
• घृतपाचितैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + पाचित (कृदन्त; √पच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), ‘पाचित’ = cooked; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घृतेन/घृतस्य पाचितम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• गन्धैः: with fragrances
• गन्धैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• श्रुतिस्मृतिमनूदितैः: as prescribed in śruti and smṛti
• श्रुतिस्मृतिमनूदितैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + अनूदित (कृदन्त; √वद् with अनु- उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) ‘अनूदित’ = prescribed/mentioned; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (श्रुति+स्मृति) as prior member + तत्पुरुषः (श्रुतिस्मृतिभ्याम् अनूदितैः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vishnu worship should be performed with sattvic materials (white flowers, ghee-cooked naivedya, gandha, dhupa) according to Śruti and Smṛti injunctions.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as a support for devotion; śāstra-pramāṇa (scripture as valid means) guiding practice.

Application: Use clean, simple, sattvic offerings: white flowers, ghee-prepared food, fragrance and incense; follow a consistent, scripturally-aligned puja sequence (ācamanam, āvāhana, upacāras, naivedya, ārati).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: home shrine/temple altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.30.39 (puja and mantra at illness); Garuda Purana 2.30.41-42 (Vishnu as all-pervading, deepening the meaning of worship)

Characters & Entities

• Śruti
• Smṛti

FAQs

What is the importance of offering white flowers and ghee-cooked naivedya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes sattvic, ritually pure offerings—white flowers, ghee-prepared food, fragrance, and incense—as appropriate materials for worship performed according to scriptural injunction.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals and dharma?

In the Preta Kanda, correct observance of rites is repeatedly tied to dharma; here, Vishnu stresses that worship and offerings should follow Śruti–Smṛti prescriptions, which underpins proper ritual conduct connected with post-death observances as well.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep worship simple and sattvic: offer clean flowers, wholesome food (traditionally ghee-based), and use fragrance/incense—while aligning practice with authentic scriptural or traditional guidance rather than personal improvisation.