Shloka 22

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

हविष्यान्नं शुभं मुद्रां छत्रोष्णीषे च चलेकम् / दापयेत्सर्वसस्यानि क्षीरक्षौद्रयुतानि च

Transliteration

haviṣyānnaṃ śubhaṃ mudrāṃ chatroṣṇīṣe ca calekam / dāpayetsarvasasyāni kṣīrakṣaudrayutāni ca

Translation

Hendaklah dipersembahkan sebagai sedekah makanan havis (hidangan suci yang layak untuk korban), wang syubhah (berkat), serta payung, serban (uṣṇīṣa) dan jubah. Dan hendaklah didermakan segala jenis bijirin, disertai susu dan madu.

Word by Word

• हविष्य-अन्नम्: haviṣya food (ritual food)
• हविष्य-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविष्य + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—हविष्यं (यज्ञयोग्यं) अन्नम्

• शुभम्: auspicious, good
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मुद्राम्: a seal/ring (token)
• मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• छत्र-उष्णीषे: umbrella and turban
• छत्र-उष्णीषे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र + उष्णीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—छत्रं च उष्णीषं च

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• चेलकम्: a garment/cloth
• चेलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दापयेत्: should have (them) given
• दापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः—‘to cause to give / to have given’

• सर्व-सस्यानि: all grains/crops
• सर्व-सस्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + सस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—सर्वाणि सस्यानि

• क्षीर-क्षौद्र-युतानि: mixed with milk and honey
• क्षीर-क्षौद्र-युतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर + क्षौद्र + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; (क्षीरं च क्षौद्रं च) इति द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद; ‘युत’ = सहित; विशेषणम् (सस्यानि)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha context (tithi-based; performed as prescribed)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna as an essential limb of śrāddha—gifts of pure food, essentials, and grains with milk and honey to generate puṇya and please the Pitṛs.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through śāstra-guided offering and non-attachment to possessions.

Application: During śrāddha, include sattvic food-gifts and practical items (umbrella, headcloth, cloak) and donate grains with milk and honey to qualified recipients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (griha/śrāddha-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa sections on dāna with śrāddha; Garuda Purana instructions on anna-dāna and tilodaka/pinda offerings (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable giving) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse lists specific gifts—pure food, money, clothing and protective items, and grains with milk and honey—indicating that prescribed dāna is treated as a supportive rite for the departed and a meritorious act for the family.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, such donations are presented as ritual supports offered on behalf of the preta (departed being), aligning the household’s actions with dharma during the transitional post-death period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial charity, give pure food and staple grains, along with clothing/necessities and a monetary gift, ideally with nourishing items like milk and honey, as an act of compassion and dharmic remembrance.