Shloka 28
The Narrative of the Five Pretas
Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure
सप्तभ्यो यमसंज्ञेभ्यो दद्यात्सप्त जलाञ्जलीन् / यमाय धर्मराजाय मृत्यवे चान्तकाय च
saptabhyo yamasaṃjñebhyo dadyātsapta jalāñjalīn / yamāya dharmarājāya mṛtyave cāntakāya ca
Hendaklah dipersembahkan tujuh genggam air (jalāñjali) kepada tujuh rupa yang bernama Yama—iaitu kepada Yama, Dharmarāja, Mṛtyu dan Antaka juga.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: During funeral/śrāddha sequence as jalāñjali (water-offering)
Concept: Recognition of cosmic moral governance: Yama’s multiple epithets represent facets of death and justice; offerings align the rite with that order.
Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyati (divine order) operating through dharma; acceptance of mortality within a lawful cosmos.
Application: Perform water-offerings with correct intention and naming; cultivate accountability and ethical living under the awareness of dharma’s oversight.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: ritual site
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8.29 (continuation of Yama-epithets and sevenfold offering); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama’s role in adjudication
FAQs
This verse prescribes a specific death-rite act—offering seven water-libations to Yama’s named forms—signaling ritual acknowledgment of Death’s cosmic order and seeking orderly passage for post-death transitions.
By directing offerings to Yama and his epithets (Dharmarāja, Mṛtyu, Antaka), the text situates the departed within Yama’s jurisdiction of dharma and post-mortem accountability, reinforcing that the afterlife journey is governed by moral law.
It encourages mindful performance of traditional remembrance/obsequial rites (where culturally practiced) and, ethically, reminds one to live under dharma—since “Dharmarāja” implies that actions have consequences.