Shloka 10

The Destiny of Those Who Die Through Fasting & the Procedure of Udakumbha-dāna

Devanagari script

षोडशाद्याः प्रदातव्या माषान्नजलपूरिताः

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśādyāḥ pradātavyā māṣānnajalapūritāḥ

Translation

ഷോഡശ (നിയത) അർപ്പണങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച്, മാഷാന്നവും ജലവും നിറഞ്ഞ ദാനങ്ങൾ നൽകേണ്ടതാണ്.

Word by Word

• ṣoḍaśādyāḥ: beginning with the sixteen
• ṣoḍaśādyāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier - implied pots/shraddhas)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśādi (षोडशादि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• pradātavyāḥ: should be given
• pradātavyāḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + dā (प्र + दा)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; Tavya Pratyaya (Visarga dropped by sandhi)

• māṣānnajalapūritāḥ: filled with black gram, food, and water
• māṣānnajalapūritāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṣānnajalapūrita (माषान्नजलपूरित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within the ṣoḍaśa (sixteen) śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha efficacy depends on prescribed number and proper material composition of offerings (māṣānna and water).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order (ṛta/dharma); disciplined action (niyata-karma) as purifier.

Application: Follow the traditional sequence (ṣoḍaśa) and prepare offerings with appropriate food (black gram) and water, emphasizing cleanliness and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/śrāddha setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha descriptions; preta-tarpaṇa and anna-jala offerings

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘sixteen’ offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates a structured set of prescribed offerings (ṣoḍaśa) to be made for the departed, emphasizing completeness and proper ritual order in preta-related rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, such offerings are described as supporting the preta during its transitional state, ensuring the rites are properly performed to aid its onward passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or related rites, follow the prescribed sequence and offer simple, traditional items—such as water and māṣa-based food—while maintaining sincerity and dharmic conduct.