Shloka 17

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

वसुभ्यस्त्वामहं विप्र रुद्रेभ्यस्त्वामहं ततः / सूर्येभ्यस्त्वामहं विप्र भोजयामीति तान्वदेत्

Transliteration

vasubhyastvāmahaṃ vipra rudrebhyastvāmahaṃ tataḥ / sūryebhyastvāmahaṃ vipra bhojayāmīti tānvadet

Translation

హే ద్విజా, వసువుల తరఫున ఇది నీకు అర్పిస్తున్నాను; తరువాత రుద్రుల తరఫున ఇది అర్పిస్తున్నాను; మళ్లీ సూర్యగణుల తరఫున కూడా ఇది అర్పిస్తున్నాను—అని చెప్పి ‘నేను వారికి భోజనం పెడుతున్నాను’ అని పలుకుతూ వారిని సంబోధించాలి।

Word by Word

• वसुभ्यः: from the Vasus
• वसुभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative; also Dative possible by form), बहुवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• रुद्रेभ्यः: from the Rudras
• रुद्रेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative; also Dative possible by form), बहुवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सूर्येभ्यः: from the Sūryas
• सूर्येभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative; also Dative possible by form), बहुवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भोजयामि: I feed / I cause to eat
• भोजयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्/भोजय् (धातु; णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• तान्: those (persons)
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वदेत्: should say
• वदेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha bhojana: sequential uddeśa to deva-groups while feeding brāhmaṇas.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-vācya saṅkalpa: correct verbal designation (uddeśa) sanctifies the act of feeding as an offering to designated cosmic classes.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyatitva and yajña-bhāva: action becomes sacred when aligned with ordained order (ṛta/dharma) and offered with right intention.

Application: In any rite of giving, explicitly state the intended recipient/lineage/deity and keep the act free of ambiguity; treat the brāhmaṇa as a conduit, not the final ‘owner’ of the offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (śrāddha-vidhi context: uddeśa, bhojana, dakṣiṇā, visarjana)

Characters & Entities

• Vasus
• Rudras
• Suryas
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking the Vasus, Rudras, and Sūryas while feeding during śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the feeder should explicitly dedicate the act of brāhmaṇa-bhojana to specific divine groups; the spoken dedication (saṅkalpa-like statement) ritually directs the offering’s intent and merit.

How does this verse relate to the journey of the departed soul (preta) in the Preta Kanda context?

In the Preta Kanda, correct śrāddha procedure supports the post-death transition by generating dharmic merit and ritual support; here, the verse specifies the proper verbal dedication when offerings are made through a brāhmaṇa as the ritual medium.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial feeding, keep the intention explicit—dedicate offerings thoughtfully (even in simple words) and treat the brāhmaṇa/guest respectfully, aligning the act with dharma and remembrance.