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Shloka 65

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

कृतस्य करणं नास्ति प्रेतकार्यादृते खग / यः करोति नरः कश्चित्कृत् पूर्वं विनश्यति

Transliteration

kṛtasya karaṇaṃ nāsti pretakāryādṛte khaga / yaḥ karoti naraḥ kaścitkṛt pūrvaṃ vinaśyati

Translation

Wahai burung (Garuda), apa yang telah dilakukan tidak dapat dibatalkan—kecuali melalui upacara bagi yang telah meninggal. Sesiapa yang melaksanakan upacara itu memelihara agar pahala yang telah tercapai dahulu tidak lenyap.

Word by Word
कृतस्यof what has been done
कृतस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formकृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भव, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — ‘of what is done’
करणम्doing again, repetition; performance
करणम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — subject of नास्ति
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपातः (negation particle)
अस्तिexists
अस्ति:
Kriyā (Action)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘is/exists’
प्रेतकार्यादृतेexcept for the funeral/pretā rites
प्रेतकार्यादृते:
Apavāda (Exception)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रेतकार्य + ऋते (अव्यय)
Form‘ऋते’ अव्यय (without/except); प्रेतकार्य (नपुंसक) पञ्चमी-एकवचनात् (ablative) — ‘except the rite for the departed’
खगO bird (Garuda)
खग:
Sambodhana (Address)
TypeNoun
Rootखग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — vocative
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — relative pronoun
करोतिdoes, performs
करोति:
Kriyā (Action)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘does’
नरःa man
नरः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — apposition to यः
कश्चित्anyone, some (person)
कश्चित्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootक (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — indefinite pronoun
कृत्a doer; one who has performed
कृत्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formकृ-धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — ‘doer’ (here: one who has done)
पूर्वम्previously
पूर्वम्:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषणम् (formerly/before)
विनश्यतिperishes, is ruined
विनश्यति:
Kriyā (Action)
TypeVerb
Rootनश् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘perishes’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma is generally irreversible, yet preta-kārya (rites for the departed) can preserve/secure the fruit for the deceased, preventing loss of accrued benefit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama with śāstra-sanctioned upāya (ritual means) operating within dharma; grace expressed through prescribed action.

Application: Do not neglect śrāddha/preta rites thinking ‘what’s done is done’; perform them to safeguard the departed’s welfare and continuity of merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (Vishnu–Garuda samvada)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on necessity and efficacy of preta-kārya (context around 2.26.64-67); Garuda Purana: discussions on śrāddha as ‘anivārya’ duty in related chapters

Characters & Entities
P
Pretas
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse states that while ordinary actions cannot be reversed, the condition of a departed being can still be meaningfully supported through preta-karya, making these rites uniquely effective in the post-death context.

It implies that after death the departed (preta) depends on prescribed rites; these acts become a special means to protect or sustain what was previously attained and to aid the onward journey in the afterlife framework described in the Preta Kanda.

Perform prescribed ancestral and post-death rites responsibly (as per one’s tradition and guidance), and cultivate timely duty toward family elders—because supportive actions done at the right time have lasting spiritual consequences.

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