Shloka 65

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

कृतस्य करणं नास्ति प्रेतकार्यादृते खग / यः करोति नरः कश्चित्कृत् पूर्वं विनश्यति

Transliteration

kṛtasya karaṇaṃ nāsti pretakāryādṛte khaga / yaḥ karoti naraḥ kaścitkṛt pūrvaṃ vinaśyati

Translation

โอ้พญาวิหค (ครุฑ)! สิ่งที่ได้กระทำแล้ว ย่อมย้อนกลับไม่ได้—เว้นแต่ด้วยพิธีเพื่อผู้ล่วงลับ (เปรตการยะ). ผู้ใดประกอบพิธีนั้น ย่อมคุ้มครองผลบุญที่ได้ทำไว้ไม่ให้เสื่อมสูญ

Word by Word

• कृतस्य: of what has been done
• कृतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भव, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — ‘of what is done’

• करणम्: doing again, repetition; performance
• करणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — subject of नास्ति

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘is/exists’

• प्रेतकार्यादृते: except for the funeral/pretā rites
• प्रेतकार्यादृते: Apavāda (Exception)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रेतकार्य + ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: ‘ऋते’ अव्यय (without/except); प्रेतकार्य (नपुंसक) पञ्चमी-एकवचनात् (ablative) — ‘except the rite for the departed’

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — vocative

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — relative pronoun

• करोति: does, performs
• करोति: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘does’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — apposition to यः

• कश्चित्: anyone, some (person)
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — indefinite pronoun

• कृत्: a doer; one who has performed
• कृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — ‘doer’ (here: one who has done)

• पूर्वम्: previously
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषणम् (formerly/before)

• विनश्यति: perishes, is ruined
• विनश्यति: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘perishes’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma is generally irreversible, yet preta-kārya (rites for the departed) can preserve/secure the fruit for the deceased, preventing loss of accrued benefit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama with śāstra-sanctioned upāya (ritual means) operating within dharma; grace expressed through prescribed action.

Application: Do not neglect śrāddha/preta rites thinking ‘what’s done is done’; perform them to safeguard the departed’s welfare and continuity of merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (Vishnu–Garuda samvada)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on necessity and efficacy of preta-kārya (context around 2.26.64-67); Garuda Purana: discussions on śrāddha as ‘anivārya’ duty in related chapters

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-karya (rites for the departed) in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that while ordinary actions cannot be reversed, the condition of a departed being can still be meaningfully supported through preta-karya, making these rites uniquely effective in the post-death context.

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

It implies that after death the departed (preta) depends on prescribed rites; these acts become a special means to protect or sustain what was previously attained and to aid the onward journey in the afterlife framework described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform prescribed ancestral and post-death rites responsibly (as per one’s tradition and guidance), and cultivate timely duty toward family elders—because supportive actions done at the right time have lasting spiritual consequences.