Shloka 57

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

सन्तप्तहाटकमयं तु घटं विधाय ब्रह्मोशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः / क्षीराज्यपूर्णविवरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः

santaptahāṭakamayaṃ tu ghaṭaṃ vidhāya brahmośakeśavayutaṃ saha lokapālaiḥ / kṣīrājyapūrṇavivaraṃ praṇipatya bhaktyā viprāya dehi tava dānaśataiḥ kimanyaiḥ

Sediakan sebuah tempayan daripada emas yang dipanaskan, dihiasi dengan Brahmā, Śiva dan Keśava bersama para Lokapāla; lalu penuhi mulutnya dengan susu dan ghee. Tunduklah dengan bhakti dan berikan kepada seorang brāhmaṇa—apakah perlunya lagi ratusan sedekah yang lain?

सन्तप्तheated, well-heated
सन्तप्त:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसन्तप्त (कृदन्त; √तप् धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण-प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (घटम् इति विशेष्यस्य)
हाटकमयम्made of gold
हाटकमयम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootहाटक + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समासः (हाटकस्य मयः); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (घटम् इति विशेष्यस्य)
तुbut, indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपातः/समुच्चय-व्यतिरेकसूचकः
घटम्a pot
घटम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootघट (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्
विधायhaving made/prepared
विधाय:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√धा (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) ‘विधाय’; क्रियापूर्वकत्वम्
ब्रह्मBrahmā
ब्रह्म:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)
उशŚiva (as ‘Uśa/Īśa’ epithet)
उश:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootउश (प्रातिपदिक; शिव-पर्यायः)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)
केशवKeśava (Viṣṇu)
केशव:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootकेशव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)
युतम्joined with, accompanied by
युतम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootयुत (कृदन्त; √यु/√युज् धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘युत’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (घटम् इति विशेष्यस्य)
सहtogether with
सह:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह (अव्यय)
Formउपसर्गसदृश-अव्ययम्; सह-योगे तृतीया अपेक्षा
लोकपालैःwith the guardians of the worlds
लोकपालैः:
Sahakari (Instrument/सहकारी-करण)
TypeNoun
Rootलोकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समासः (लोकस्य पालः); पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्
क्षीरmilk
क्षीर:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रातिपदिकम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)
आज्यghee
आज्य:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootआज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रातिपदिकम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)
पूर्णfilled
पूर्ण:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्ण (कृदन्त; √पॄ धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘पूर्ण’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (विवरम् इति विशेष्यस्य)
विवरम्opening, cavity
विवरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootविवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्
प्रणिपत्यhaving bowed down
प्रणिपत्य:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√पत् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) ‘प्रणिपत्य’ (प्र-नि-√पत्)
भक्त्याwith devotion
भक्त्या:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्
विप्रायto a brāhmaṇa
विप्राय:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचनम्
देहिgive
देहि:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√दा (धातु)
Formलोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
तवof you/your
तव:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम
दानशतैःby hundreds of gifts
दानशतैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootदान + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समासः (दानानां शतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्
किम्what (use)
किम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम
अन्यैःwith other (things)
अन्यैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम् (अर्थे: ‘अन्यैः दानैः’)

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After death-related impurity period; performed as a remedial śrāddha-associated mahādāna to avert preta-condition (as clarified in 2.27.60).

Concept: Mahādāna (hiranyagarbha/ghata-dāna style) offered with devotion surpasses many lesser gifts; intention and proper rite amplify merit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by bhakti (niṣkāma-dāna) becomes a means of inner purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Perform charity with correct procedure, sacred symbolism, and humility; prioritize one well-executed, sattvic gift over many careless donations.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: ritual-space

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.27.58-60 (iconography, worship, fruit: sin-destruction and preta-nivṛtti)

B
Brahma
S
Shiva (Isha)
V
Vishnu (Keshava)
L
Lokapalas
B
Brahmana

FAQs

This verse presents ghaṭa-dāna as a highly efficacious śrāddha-related gift: a consecrated vessel (with divine symbolism) offered to a brāhmaṇa is said to yield merit surpassing many ordinary donations.

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed dānas performed with devotion are taught as supports for the departed and the family’s dharma—ritual charity becomes a focused means of generating puṇya rather than relying on numerous miscellaneous gifts.

Prioritize sincere, dharma-aligned giving—offer a meaningful, purpose-specific donation (especially during śrāddha or memorial rites) with humility and devotion, rather than treating charity as a mere quantity of gifts.