Shloka 14

Preta-lakṣaṇa and Svapna-nimitta: Dream Portents of Preta-affliction and the Prescribed Remedies

Devanagari script

कृष्णधान्यानि पूजां च प्रदद्याद्वेदपारगे / होमं कुर्याद्यथाशक्ति सम्पूर्णं वाचयेत्सुधीः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇadhānyāni pūjāṃ ca pradadyādvedapārage / homaṃ kuryādyathāśakti sampūrṇaṃ vācayetsudhīḥ

Translation

Orang bijaksana hendaklah mempersembahkan bijirin hitam serta memberikan pemujaan yang wajar kepada seorang yang mahir Veda; hendaklah melakukan homa (persembahan api) menurut kemampuan, dan menjemput pembacaan suci yang lengkap dengan tertib.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-dhānyāni: black grains (e.g., black sesame etc.)
• kṛṣṇa-dhānyāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (कृष्णानि धान्यानि)

• pūjāṃ: worship
• pūjāṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (and)

• pradadyāt: should give/offer
• pradadyāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (प्र-दा) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

• veda-pārage: to a knower of the Veda
• veda-pārage: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + pāraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगः = one who has mastered the Veda)

• homaṃ: fire-offering (homa)
• homaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

• yathā-śakti: according to one's capacity
• yathā-śakti: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषण (according to ability)

• sampūrṇaṃ: complete/entire
• sampūrṇaṃ: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sampūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• vācayet: should have (it) recited
• vācayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative): ‘cause to be recited’

• su-dhīḥ: the wise person
• su-dhīḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सु-धीः = good/intelligent person)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Remedy includes dāna (black grains), honoring a Vedapāraga, performing homa as able, and arranging complete sacred recitation—ritual completeness restores balance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action with reverence to śruti and agni as purifier; śabda (recitation) as a sanctifying power.

Application: Support qualified teachers/priests, perform feasible homa, and engage in full-text recitation/listening as a structured spiritual remedy during inauspicious periods.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting (home/śrauta-gṛhya space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.23.13 (snāna, tarpaṇa); Garuda Purana broader śrāddha/prāyaścitta passages emphasizing dāna, homa, and pāṭha

Characters & Entities

• Veda-knower (Vedapāraga)
• Homa (Agni/ritual fire)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving offerings and honoring a Veda-knower in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames post-death rites as both dāna and dharma: offerings (like black grains) and honoring a Vedapāraga ensure the rite is performed with scriptural correctness and generates merit directed toward the departed.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed rites—dāna, homa, and complete recitation—are presented as supports that aid the departed’s onward passage by accumulating merit and ritually stabilizing the transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do what is feasible: perform rites “according to capacity,” support qualified Vedic recitation, and offer simple, traditional items with sincerity—prioritizing correctness, charity, and reverence over display.