Shloka 39

Devanagari script

कृत्वा चैकादशाहञ्च पुनः स्नात्वा शुचिर्भवेत् / दद्याद्विप्राय यः शय्यां यथोक्तं प्रेतमोक्षदाम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā caikādaśāhañca punaḥ snātvā śucirbhavet / dadyādviprāya yaḥ śayyāṃ yathoktaṃ pretamokṣadām

Translation

Setelah menyempurnakan upacara sebelas hari, hendaklah mandi lagi lalu menjadi suci. Sesiapa yang menghadiahkan sebuah katil kepada seorang Brahmana tepat seperti yang ditetapkan, dia menganugerahkan pembebasan kepada roh preta yang telah pergi.

Word by Word

kṛtvāhaving done

caand

ekādaśa-ahānthe eleventh-day rite/period

caand

punaḥagain

snātvāhaving bathed

śuciḥpure

bhavetshould become

dadyātshould give

viprāyato a Brahmin

yaḥwho

śayyāma bed

yathā-uktamas prescribed

preta-mokṣa-dāmgranting liberation to the departed

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After completion of ekādaśāha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completion plus renewed bathing; prescribed dāna (bed to a brāhmaṇa) yields ‘preta-mokṣa’ (release/relief for the departed).

Vedantic Theme: Karma and dāna as purifiers that support auspicious gati; compassion expressed as ritualized giving.

Application: After ekādaśāha, bathe again; perform the specified dāna carefully (object, recipient, manner) as part of post-death duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha/śrāddha-maṇḍala (ritual area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna items for preta-śānti (śayyā-dāna, vastra-dāna, anna-dāna) and their stated fruits

Characters & Entities

Vipra (Brahmin)

Preta (departed spirit)

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekadashaaha (eleven-day rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the eleven-day observance as a required completion of post-death rites, after which purification (snāna) and prescribed charity are performed to aid the preta’s release.

How does this verse explain helping the soul (preta) after death?

It states that giving a properly prescribed bed (śayyā-dāna) to a qualified Brahmin functions as a ritual support that “grants release” to the departed, indicating that specific dānas are considered spiritually efficacious for preta-moksha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow funeral rites with cleanliness and sincerity, and practice purposeful charity—especially prescribed forms of giving—dedicated to the welfare of the departed and the cultivation of dharma in the living.