Shloka 14

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

यज्ञोपवीती कुर्वीत प्रेतनाम प्रकीर्तयेत् / प्रेतं यमं च विष्णुं च स्मरन् श्राद्धं समापयेत्

Transliteration

yajñopavītī kurvīta pretanāma prakīrtayet / pretaṃ yamaṃ ca viṣṇuṃ ca smaran śrāddhaṃ samāpayet

Translation

యజ్ఞోపవీతం ధరించి ప్రేతుని నామాన్ని ప్రకటించవలెను; ప్రేతుడు, యముడు, విష్ణువు అని స్మరిస్తూ శ్రాద్ధాన్ని సమాప్తి చేయవలెను।

Word by Word

• yajñopavītī: wearing the sacred thread
• yajñopavītī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yajñopavītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Inin affix)

• kurvīta: should perform
• kurvīta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (डुकृञ्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-Lin), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• pretanāma: name of the deceased
• pretanāma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pretanāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prakīrtayet: should proclaim/recite
• prakīrtayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (कीर्त) + pra (प्र)
• Form: Causative, Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

• pretam: the deceased (Preta)
• pretam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yamam: Yama
• yamam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Visheshana (Qualifier of Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ)
• Form: Present Participle (Shatri), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śrāddham: the Shraddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samāpayet: should conclude/complete
• samāpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (आप) + sam (सम्)
• Form: Causative, Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: at śrāddha-samāpana (concluding segment) after main offerings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅkalpa and smaraṇa: ritual efficacy is strengthened by explicit identification and mindful remembrance of the departed alongside cosmic adjudication (Yama) and divine refuge (Viṣṇu).

Vedantic Theme: From personal grief to sacred remembrance: transforming attachment into dharmic offering; īśvara-smaraṇa as purifier of emotion.

Application: In memorial acts, speak the departed’s name with dignity, recall virtues, and conclude with a prayer for peace; keep the process mindful rather than mechanically performed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta terminology and śrāddha completion (samāpana) with devatā-smaraṇa

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Yama
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting the preta’s name in Garuda Purana śrāddha?

This verse indicates that explicitly proclaiming the departed’s name is a key ritual act, linking the offering and intention directly to that preta so the śrāddha is properly addressed and completed.

Why does the verse mention remembering Yama and Vishnu together?

Yama represents the order of death and post-death justice, while Vishnu is remembered as the divine refuge; the rite is concluded with awareness of both karmic accountability (Yama) and spiritual protection/grace (Vishnu).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform remembrance with clarity and reverence: keep the rite disciplined (yajñopavīta/ritual propriety), name the departed with intention, and end with mindful prayer—balancing responsibility for actions with devotion and surrender.