Home›Garuda Purana›Preta Kalpa›Adhyaya 31›Shloka 20
←Previous Verse
Next Verse→

Shloka 20

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

मृतोद्देशेन यो यद्याज्जलपात्रञ्च मृन्मयम् / उदपात्रसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

Transliteration

mṛtoddeśena yo yadyājjalapātrañca mṛnmayam / udapātrasahasrasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

Translation

Sesiapa yang, atas nama si mati, mendermakan walau sebuah bekas air tanah liat yang sederhana, maka dia memperoleh pahala setara dengan menderma seribu bekas air.

Word by Word
मृत-उद्देशेनwith dedication to the deceased
मृत-उद्देशेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृतस्य उद्देशः = deceased person’s intention/dedication)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
यत्whatever
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-निर्देशक (whatever)
याजेत्should offer/sacrifice
याजेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√यज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
जल-पात्रम्a water-vessel
जल-पात्रम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootजल (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य पात्रम्)
चand
च:
Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
मृन्मयम्made of clay
मृन्मयम्:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट् (तद्धित)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (made of clay)
उद-पात्र-सहस्रस्यof a thousand water-vessels
उद-पात्र-सहस्रस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootउदक/उद् (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (उदपात्राणां सहस्रम्)
फलम्the fruit/result
फलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootफल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
आप्नोतिattains
आप्नोति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√आप् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
मानवःa man/person
मानवः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमानव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed ‘mṛtoddēśena’—with intention for the departed, typically within śrāddha/uttara-kriyā observances

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even a small, sincere gift dedicated to the departed can yield immense merit (phala-vṛddhi through intention and context).

Vedantic Theme: Sankalpa and adhikāra shape karma-phala; compassion (dayā) as purifier; ritual context magnifies ethical action.

Application: Do accessible charity—provide water, hydration stations, earthen pots, or support clean-water initiatives—dedicating merit to ancestors if within tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.31.18 (reducing suffering on the path); Garuda Purana 2.31.19 (give according to capacity)

Characters & Entities
P
Preta
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse teaches that offering even an earthen water-pot for the departed carries very high merit—counted as equal to gifting a thousand water-pots—highlighting water-donation as a powerful preta-kritya charity.

In the Preta Kanda context, such donations are prescribed to support the departed’s post-death journey and welfare; the text emphasizes that intention (mṛtoddeśa—done for the deceased) amplifies the spiritual fruit.

During śrāddha or memorial rites, one may donate a clean earthen water pot (or water service) in the departed’s name, remembering that sincere intention and dharmic giving are valued even when the gift is simple.

←Previous Verse
Next Verse→