Shloka 20

The Preta’s Staged Journey to Yama’s City: Monthly Śrāddha Supports, Vaitaraṇī Crossing, and the Witnesses of Deeds

Devanagari script

तत्र दत्तेन पिण्डेन श्राद्धेनाप्यायितः पुरे / मुहूर्तार्धं तु विश्रम्य कम्पमानः सुदुः खितः

Transliteration

tatra dattena piṇḍena śrāddhenāpyāyitaḥ pure / muhūrtārdhaṃ tu viśramya kampamānaḥ suduḥ khitaḥ

Translation

ณ นครนั้น เขาได้รับการหล่อเลี้ยงด้วยพินฑะและศราทธ์ที่ถวายไว้ ครั้นพักได้เพียงครึ่งมุหูรตะ ก็กลับสั่นระริกอีกครั้ง ถูกความโศกใหญ่ครอบงำ

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• दत्तेन: by the given
• दत्तेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — 'by/with what is given'

• पिण्डेन: with the piṇḍa (rice-ball offering)
• पिण्डेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्राद्धेन: by the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आप्यायितः: nourished/satiated
• आप्यायितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+प्या (धातु) → आप्यायित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — 'nourished/satisfied'

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुहूर्तार्धम्: half a muhūrta
• मुहूर्तार्धम्: कर्म/अवधि (Extent/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष — 'half of a muhūrta' (measure of time)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• विश्रम्य: having rested
• विश्रम्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि+श्रम् (धातु) → विश्रम्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — 'having rested'

• कम्पमानः: trembling
• कम्पमानः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्प् (धातु) → कम्पमान (कृदन्त, शतृ/शानच् वर्तमान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); वर्तमानकाले शानच्/शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त — 'trembling'

• सुदुःखितः: very distressed
• सुदुःखितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपसर्ग/उपपद-युक्त विशेषण — 'very afflicted'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Monthly sequence context (here: at the station after offerings)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa and śrāddha nourish the preta, yet the liminal condition remains marked by duḥkha and trembling; partial relief, not final liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Temporary upaśamana through ritual merit; enduring saṃsāric condition until the causal chain is resolved (through time, rites, and karmic maturation).

Application: Continue offerings beyond a single rite; combine ritual duty with ethical living and devotional remembrance to support the departed steadily.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly city station

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated motif—piṇḍa/śrāddha gives strength but preta still suffers until completion of prescribed period/rites; Garuda Purana: sections on sapīṇḍīkaraṇa and later transitions (general forward reference)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pinda
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa and śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the departed (preta) is specifically ‘nourished’ and sustained by the piṇḍa offering and śrāddha, indicating these rites provide tangible relief/support on the post-death journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents the preta’s condition as fluctuating: ritual offerings can grant a short period of rest and strengthening, but the being may return to trembling sorrow, implying an ongoing journey with intermittent relief.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with care and regularity (as per family tradition/ācāra), and cultivate compassion and responsibility toward ancestors—ritual support is portrayed as meaningful, not merely symbolic.