Shloka 51

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

स च कृत्वा विलम्बेन वृद्धो मद्गृहमागतः / अकृतश्राद्धकर्माहं तं पाकं भुक्तवान् क्षुधा

Transliteration

sa ca kṛtvā vilambena vṛddho madgṛhamāgataḥ / akṛtaśrāddhakarmāhaṃ taṃ pākaṃ bhuktavān kṣudhā

Translation

അവൻ താമസിച്ച് വൃദ്ധനായി എന്റെ വീട്ടിൽ എത്തി. ഞാൻ—ശ്രാദ്ധകർമ്മം ചെയ്യാതെ—വിശപ്പാൽ ആ പാകം ചെയ്ത ആഹാരം കഴിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल; Absolutive (having done)

• विलम्बेन: with delay/slowly
• विलम्बेन: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular (adverbial)

• वृद्धः: old
• वृद्धः: Karta (Qualifier of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (qualifying सः)

• मत्: my
• मत्: Sambandha (Possessive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-समासपूर्वपद (genitive stem used in compound)

• गृहम्: house
• गृहम्: Karma (Goal object with motion/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आगतः: came/arrived
• आगतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past participle used actively, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अकृतश्राद्धकर्मा: one who had not performed the śrāddha rite
• अकृतश्राद्धकर्मा: Karta (Qualifier of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + कृत (कृ धातु + क्त) + श्राद्ध + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (qualifying अहम्)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that (food/it)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पाकम्: cooked food
• पाकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भुक्तवान्: ate/has eaten
• भुक्तवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्तवत्-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Perfective past active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षुधा: out of hunger
• क्षुधा: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध्/क्षुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Instrumental, Singular (cause/manner)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha before completion of rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual food is not ordinary food; consuming it before completing śrāddha violates sanctity and duty, producing papa.

Vedantic Theme: Attachment and impulse (kṣudhā-driven) overpowering dharma strengthens saṃskāras and bondage.

Application: Do not let appetite override vows/ritual order; if delay occurs, maintain discipline, re-offer properly, or reschedule per śāstric guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-vidhi: sanctity of offerings and sequence (krama)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that neglecting śrāddha is treated as a serious lapse in pitṛ-dharma; even ordinary acts like eating a meal are framed within the duty to complete ancestral rites first.

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

In Preta Kanda contexts, śrāddha supports the departed (preta) through offerings and ritual continuity; the verse underscores that failing to perform these rites creates karmic fault that affects post-death welfare and family obligations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain timely remembrance and prescribed rites for ancestors (as per one’s tradition), and treat ritual duties and ethical responsibility as part of disciplined living rather than optional customs.