Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

उदकुम्भप्रदानेन किङ्करास्तृप्तिमाप्नुयुः

Transliteration

udakumbhapradānena kiṅkarāstṛptimāpnuyuḥ

Translation

ด้วยการถวายอุทกุมภะ (หม้อน้ำ) เหล่ากิงกร ผู้รับใช้พระยม ย่อมได้รับความอิ่มเอม

Word by Word

• उदकुम्भप्रदानेन: by the donation of a water-pot
• उदकुम्भप्रदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद + कुम्भ + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (उदकुम्भस्य प्रदानम्)

• किङ्कराः: the attendants/servants (of Yama)
• किङ्कराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• आप्नुयुः: would attain
• आप्नुयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within the post-death rite sequence (commonly during the 10–13 day observances)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (udakumbha-pradāna) yields specific beneficial effects—appeasement of Yama’s attendants—suggesting karmic causality applied to liminal passage.

Vedantic Theme: Karma operates through intention and symbolic action; fear is met with dharmic remedy rather than despair.

Application: Offer water-pot donation (or water/utility support) in memory of the departed, especially in śrāddha contexts, with a clear sankalpa for obstacle-removal.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: kiṅkara/yamadūta motifs and obstacle-removal through dāna (general); Garuda Purana: water/udaka offerings in śrāddha contexts (general)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yama-dūtas (Kiṅkaras)

FAQs

What is the importance of udakumbha-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering a water-pot has an appeasing effect on Yama’s attendants, indicating it is a recommended charity connected to post-death rites and the deceased’s passage.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, such dānas are described as easing obstacles on the post-mortem path; here, the emphasis is that Yama’s agents are satisfied—symbolically reducing harassment or hindrance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charitable giving aligned with śrāddha intentions—such as donating water vessels or supporting access to water—while maintaining sincerity and dharmic conduct.