Shloka 16

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

प्रथमं विष्णवे दद्याद्ब्रह्मणे च शिवाय च / सभृत्याय शिवायाथ प्रेतायापि च पञ्चमम्

Transliteration

prathamaṃ viṣṇave dadyādbrahmaṇe ca śivāya ca / sabhṛtyāya śivāyātha pretāyāpi ca pañcamam

Translation

Hendaklah dipersembahkan bahagian piṇḍa yang pertama kepada Viṣṇu; yang berikutnya kepada Brahmā; yang seterusnya kepada Śiva; kemudian kepada Śiva beserta para pengiring-Nya; dan bahagian kelima juga kepada preta, roh si mendiang.

Word by Word

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Visheshana (Qualifier of Pinda)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• viṣṇave: to Vishnu
• viṣṇave: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

• brahmaṇe: to Brahma
• brahmaṇe: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śivāya: to Shiva
• śivāya: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sabhṛtyāya: to one accompanied by attendants
• sabhṛtyāya: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sabhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• śivāya: to Shiva
• śivāya: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• atha: then/afterwards
• atha: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• pretāya: to the deceased (Preta)
• pretāya: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• api: also
• api: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• pañcamam: the fifth (pinda)
• pañcamam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-antyeṣṭi śrāddha period; performed on prescribed tithi (often within the initial days culminating toward ekoddiṣṭa).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-dharma requires correct apportioning of piṇḍas—first to Viṣṇu, then Brahmā and Śiva, then Śiva with gaṇas, and finally to the preta—so the rite becomes efficacious and orderly.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prasāda through prescribed karma; harmonizing sectarian deities under a dharmic ritual frame.

Application: During śrāddha, allocate offerings in the stated sequence, maintaining intention (saṅkalpa) and purity; ensure the preta receives the designated portion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on piṇḍa-vibhāga (piṇḍa distribution); Garuda Purana passages prescribing deva-piṇḍa and preta-piṇḍa order

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shiva
• Shiva's attendants (bhṛtya/gaṇa)
• Preta (departed soul)

FAQs

What is the importance of the order of pinda offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a specific sequence—first to Viṣṇu, then Brahmā, then Śiva, then Śiva with attendants, and finally to the preta—showing that śrāddha begins with divine invocation and culminates in direct support to the departed.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s condition as a preta?

By explicitly assigning the fifth offering to the preta, the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s focus on helping the departed in the preta-state through ritual nourishment and appeasement, alongside worship of key deities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha/pinda-dāna, follow the prescribed recipients and sequence with sincerity; ethically, it reinforces responsibility toward ancestors and disciplined, dharmic ritual conduct.