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Shloka 20

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

मृतोद्देशेन यो यद्याज्जलपात्रञ्च मृन्मयम् / उदपात्रसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

Transliteration

mṛtoddeśena yo yadyājjalapātrañca mṛnmayam / udapātrasahasrasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

Translation

മൃതന്റെ നാമത്തിൽ മണ്ണുകൊണ്ടുള്ള ജലപാത്രം പോലും ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്ന മനുഷ്യൻ, ആയിരം ജലപാത്രങ്ങൾ ദാനം ചെയ്തതിന്റെ ഫലം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word
मृत-उद्देशेनwith dedication to the deceased
मृत-उद्देशेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृतस्य उद्देशः = deceased person’s intention/dedication)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
यत्whatever
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-निर्देशक (whatever)
याजेत्should offer/sacrifice
याजेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√यज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
जल-पात्रम्a water-vessel
जल-पात्रम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootजल (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य पात्रम्)
चand
च:
Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
मृन्मयम्made of clay
मृन्मयम्:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट् (तद्धित)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (made of clay)
उद-पात्र-सहस्रस्यof a thousand water-vessels
उद-पात्र-सहस्रस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootउदक/उद् (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (उदपात्राणां सहस्रम्)
फलम्the fruit/result
फलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootफल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
आप्नोतिattains
आप्नोति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√आप् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
मानवःa man/person
मानवः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमानव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed ‘mṛtoddēśena’—with intention for the departed, typically within śrāddha/uttara-kriyā observances

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even a small, sincere gift dedicated to the departed can yield immense merit (phala-vṛddhi through intention and context).

Vedantic Theme: Sankalpa and adhikāra shape karma-phala; compassion (dayā) as purifier; ritual context magnifies ethical action.

Application: Do accessible charity—provide water, hydration stations, earthen pots, or support clean-water initiatives—dedicating merit to ancestors if within tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.31.18 (reducing suffering on the path); Garuda Purana 2.31.19 (give according to capacity)

Characters & Entities
P
Preta
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse teaches that offering even an earthen water-pot for the departed carries very high merit—counted as equal to gifting a thousand water-pots—highlighting water-donation as a powerful preta-kritya charity.

In the Preta Kanda context, such donations are prescribed to support the departed’s post-death journey and welfare; the text emphasizes that intention (mṛtoddeśa—done for the deceased) amplifies the spiritual fruit.

During śrāddha or memorial rites, one may donate a clean earthen water pot (or water service) in the departed’s name, remembering that sincere intention and dharmic giving are valued even when the gift is simple.

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