Shloka 26

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

ऋचा वै दापयेदर्घ्यमेकोद्दिष्टे पृथक्पृथक् / आपोदेवीर्मधुमतीरादिपीठे प्रकल्पितम्

Transliteration

ṛcā vai dāpayedarghyamekoddiṣṭe pṛthakpṛthak / āpodevīrmadhumatīrādipīṭhe prakalpitam

Translation

ഏകോദ്ദിഷ്ട കർമത്തിൽ ഋചാ (വേദമന്ത്രം) സഹിതം അർഘ്യജലം വേർവേറായി അർപ്പിക്കണം. ദേവീസ്വരൂപമായ, മധുരമായ ജലങ്ങളെ ആരംഭം മുതൽ തയ്യാറാക്കിയ പീഠത്തിൽ ക്രമീകരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• ऋचा: with a ṛk-verse (hymn)
• ऋचा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक)

• दापयेत्: should cause to give / should offer
• दापयेत्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → दापय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• एकोद्‌दिष्टे: in the ekoddiṣṭa rite
• एकोद्‌दिष्टे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्दिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √दिश् धातु + उत् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘एकस्य उद्दिष्टे’ (rite for a single designated one)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb; पुनरुक्ति

• आपः: the waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचनप्रयोगः), प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• देवीः: divine (goddess-like)
• देवीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; विशेषण

• मधुमतीः: sweet/honeyed
• मधुमतीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; विशेषण

• आदि: and so on
• आदि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘etc.’ marker (समुच्चयार्थक)

• पीठे: on the seat/platform
• पीठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• प्रकल्पितम्: arranged/prepared
• प्रकल्पितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → प्रकल्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ekoddiṣṭa rite; from the beginning (ādi) after preparing the pīṭha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Ekoddiṣṭa, arghya must be offered separately with the accompanying ṛc; the waters are to be ritually arranged from the outset on the prepared seat.

Vedantic Theme: Mantra-śakti and vidhi: sound (ṛc) and ordered action together render the offering efficacious; disciplined karma supports subtle results.

Application: When performing Ekoddiṣṭa, keep arghya offerings distinct (not mixed), recite the appropriate ṛc, and prepare/arrange the water vessels and seat before beginning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: prepared offering-seat (ādi-pīṭha) within śrāddha space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Ekoddiṣṭa-vidhi passages (single-preta focus); Garuda Purana mantras for āpo and pitṛ-tarpaṇa (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of arghya in Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that arghya must be offered distinctly (pṛthak pṛthak) in the Ekoddiṣṭa rite, using a Vedic ṛc, indicating ritual precision and respectful invocation through mantra.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey in the Garuda Purana?

Ekoddiṣṭa rites are part of post-death observances meant to support the departed; the verse emphasizes correct mantra-led water offerings as a prescribed act of honoring and aiding the preta’s transition through the ritual framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or memorial rites, keep offerings orderly and distinct, and recite the appropriate mantras with attention—treating the act as disciplined reverence rather than a hurried formality.