Shloka 36

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

स्वर्गस्थं नरकस्थं वा श्राद्धे वाप्यायनं भवेत् / तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि कुर्वीत त्रिविधानि विचक्षणः

Transliteration

svargasthaṃ narakasthaṃ vā śrāddhe vāpyāyanaṃ bhavet / tasmācchrāddhāni kurvīta trividhāni vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

ผู้ล่วงลับจะอยู่สวรรค์หรือนรกก็ตาม ย่อมได้รับการหล่อเลี้ยงและกำลังด้วยพิธีศราทธ์ ดังนั้นผู้มีปัญญาควรกระทำศราทธ์สามประการ.

Word by Word

• स्वर्गस्थम्: one situated in heaven
• स्वर्गस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative singular); ‘स्वर्गे स्थितम्’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः

• नरकस्थम्: one situated in hell
• नरकस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative singular); ‘नरके स्थितम्’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अप्यायनम्: nourishment, satisfaction (increase)
• अप्यायनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्यायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative singular)

• भवेत्: may occur, should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम् (3rd person singular optative)

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative singular)

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; बहुवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative plural)

• कुर्वीत: should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम् (3rd person singular optative; injunction)

• त्रिविधानि: of three kinds
• त्रिविधानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; बहुवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative plural); द्विगु-समासः; श्राद्धानि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विचक्षणः: the discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Threefold śrāddha (trividha) as prescribed in context; generally aligned with śrāddha cycles (e.g., ekoddiṣṭa/sapiṇḍīkaraṇa/parvaṇa depending on tradition).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha has efficacy for the departed regardless of their current post-mortem station; hence the wise should perform the threefold śrāddha.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual action (karma-kāṇḍa) as a means of welfare for pitṛs within saṃsāra; compassionate duty aligned with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Maintain ancestral rites with sincerity; if exact procedures are difficult, prioritize faith, purity, and feeding/charity in the spirit of śrāddha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: extensive śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna sections describing nourishment of preta/pitṛ and timing variants (broad internal parallel).

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Śrāddha provides āpyāyana—nourishment and strengthening—to the departed regardless of whether they are in heaven or hell, making it a universally beneficial rite.

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

It implies that the departed’s post-death experience (svarga or naraka) can still be positively affected by offerings made by the living through Śrāddha, indicating an ongoing ritual link between descendants and the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha (including pinda-dāna and related observances) with sincerity as a duty to ancestors, cultivating gratitude, continuity of family dharma, and mindful remembrance of mortality.