Shloka 11

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

पदानि सर्ववस्तूनि वरिष्ठानि त्रयोदशे / यो ददाति मृतस्येह जीवन्नप्यात्महेतवे

Transliteration

padāni sarvavastūni variṣṭhāni trayodaśe / yo dadāti mṛtasyeha jīvannapyātmahetave

Translation

ในวันไตรโยทศี ผู้ใดถวายแก่ผู้ล่วงลับ ณ ที่นี้ ซึ่งของจำเป็นทั้งปวงอันประเสริฐ—เช่น ปาทุกา (รองเท้า) เป็นต้น—ผู้นั้นแม้ยังมีชีวิตอยู่ ก็ย่อมกระทำเพื่อประโยชน์แห่งอาตมันของตนเอง

Word by Word

• पदानि: gifts/offerings (items)
• पदानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचनम्

• सर्ववस्तूनि: all things
• सर्ववस्तूनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वस्तु (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि वस्तूनि)

• वरिष्ठानि: the best
• वरिष्ठानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचनम्; अतिशय-विशेषणम् (superlative)

• त्रयोदशे: on the thirteenth (day)
• त्रयोदशे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयोदश अहानि/दिनानि)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्ययः (relative pronoun)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मृतस्य: of the deceased
• मृतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past passive participle used substantively)

• इह: here
• इह: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (here/in this world)

• जीवन्: living (while alive)
• जीवन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जीव् (धातु) + शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः (present participle)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-निपातः (also/even)

• आत्महेतवे: for one’s own sake
• आत्महेतवे: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + हेतु (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative/4th), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः हेतुः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Trayodaśī (13th day after death)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Giving essential, high-quality necessities for the deceased on the 13th day is both service to the departed and spiritual welfare for the giver (ātma-hita).

Vedantic Theme: Ethics as self-purification: outward dharma becomes inward benefit; intention (bhāva) links action to subtle transformation.

Application: On trayodaśī (or memorial days), donate practical necessities (footwear, clothing, utensils) in the departed’s name; cultivate generosity as ongoing self-care of the soul.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-time marker

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: trayodaśāha/trayodaśī dāna lists and fruits (general); Garuda Purana: teaching that śrāddha benefits both pitṛ and karta (general)

Characters & Entities

• Preta (the departed)

FAQs

What is the importance of Trayodaśa (the 13th day) donations in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that giving the best essential items on the thirteenth-day observance for the departed is considered highly meritorious and supports both the deceased’s post-death journey and the donor’s own spiritual welfare.

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

By emphasizing gifts made specifically “for the deceased,” the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s ritual logic that offerings and donations assist the preta’s transition and also generate punya (merit) that safeguards the giver’s own afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charitable giving in memory of the departed—prioritizing useful, high-quality necessities—and treat it as a disciplined act of dharma rather than mere formality, cultivating compassion and responsibility.