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Shloka 65

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

श्राद्धेन परदत्तेन गतः प्रेतो ऽपि सद्गतिम् / किं पुनः पुत्रदत्तेन पिता यातीति चात्भुतम्

Transliteration

śrāddhena paradattena gataḥ preto 'pi sadgatim / kiṃ punaḥ putradattena pitā yātīti cātbhutam

Translation

ఇతరుడు సమర్పించిన శ్రాద్ధంతో కూడ ప్రేతుడు సద్గతిని పొందుతాడు; మరి కుమారుడు సమర్పించిన శ్రాద్ధంతో తండ్రి నిశ్చయంగా ఆ ఉత్తమ గతిని పొందడం ఎంత ఆశ్చర్యం!

Word by Word
śrāddhenaby śrāddha (funeral offering)
śrāddhena:
Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootśrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
paradattenagiven by another
paradattena:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara + datta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: परेण दत्तम् (given by another)
gataḥwent, attained
gataḥ:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formभूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग: has gone
pretaḥthe preta
pretaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpreta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
apieven
api:
Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (particle): even/also
sadgatima good state/destination
sadgatim:
Karma (Goal/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsat + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सती गतीः (good destination)
kimwhat (then)?
kim:
Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)
punaḥthen, moreover
punaḥ:
Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunar (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (adverb): moreover/again
putradattenagiven by the son
putradattena:
Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootputra + datta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पुत्रेण दत्तम् (given by the son)
pitāthe father
pitā:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
yātigoes, attains
yāti:
Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√yā (धातु)
Formलट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
itithus
iti:
Vakyaparicchedaka (Quotation marker/इति)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (quotative particle): thus
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (conjunction): and
adbhutamwonderful, astonishing
adbhutam:
Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootadbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/वाक्य-विशेषण (it is wonderful)
Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasion (general; not date-specific in verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha has real efficacy for the departed; offerings by others can help, but offerings by one’s own son are especially powerful—affirming putra-dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of beings through karma and saṃskāra; compassionate transfer of merit within dharmic order.

Application: Do śrāddha for ancestors with sincerity; if no son/kin is available, community or well-wishers may perform, yet family performance is emphasized.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections emphasizing śrāddha-phala and putra’s role (contextual)

Characters & Entities
P
Pretas
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse states that Śrāddha has the power to uplift even a preta to sadgati, showing the rite’s direct spiritual efficacy for the departed.

It implies that during the preta phase, supportive rites like Śrāddha can change the departed being’s trajectory toward a better post-death destination (sadgati).

Perform Śrāddha and related pitṛ-karmas with care—especially by the family/son when applicable—while also supporting legitimate proxy performance when necessary.

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