Shloka 7

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

प्रत्यहञ्च प्रदातव्यं मार्गे सुविषमे नरैः / यावत् संवत्सरं वापि प्रेतस्य सुखलिप्सया

Transliteration

pratyahañca pradātavyaṃ mārge suviṣame naraiḥ / yāvat saṃvatsaraṃ vāpi pretasya sukhalipsayā

Translation

บนหนทางอันยากยิ่ง (ของเปรตผู้ล่วงลับ) มนุษย์พึงถวายเครื่องบูชาทุกวัน—แม้ตลอดหนึ่งปีเต็ม—ด้วยความปรารถนาให้เปรตได้รับความสุขสบาย

Word by Word

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति-अहम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; कालवाचक-अव्यय (every day)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• प्रदातव्यम्: should be given
• प्रदातव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यता (ought to be given)

• मार्गे: on the path
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; देश-अधिकरण (locative of place)

• सुविषमे: very difficult
• सुविषमे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिविषमे) विशेषणम् मार्गे

• नरैः: by people/men
• नरैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्तृकरण-भाव (by men)

• यावत्: up to; for as long as
• यावत्: Adhikarana (Extent/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (as long as / up to)

• संवत्सरम्: a year
• संवत्सरम्: Karma (Extent/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; काल-परिमाण (duration as object of yāvat)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• प्रेतस्य: of the departed spirit
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• सुखलिप्सया: with the desire for (his) happiness
• सुखलिप्सया: Hetu (Cause/Motive/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख-लिप्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुखस्य लिप्सा); हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of motive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily, up to one full year after death (preta-kāla)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sustained daily offerings for up to a year generate supportive merit that alleviates the preta’s hardship on the difficult path.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence within dharma: the living discharge ṛṇa (debts) to ancestors; compassionate karma shapes subtle outcomes beyond death.

Application: Maintain a daily offering regimen (lamp/water/food/charity as prescribed) through the preta-year, dedicating merit to the departed with consistent sankalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: liminal path

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta’s year-long transitional state and the efficacy of offerings; Garuda Purana: descriptions of the difficult path and supports provided by śrāddha/dāna

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of daily offerings for the preta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that because the preta’s journey is extremely difficult, the living should give offerings daily—up to a year—to help provide the departed comfort and support.

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

It characterizes the post-death route as “su-viṣama” (highly arduous), implying the departed benefits from sustained ritual support (dāna/śrāddha-type offerings) during the interim preta state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform the prescribed post-death rites with consistency—especially regular charity/offerings in the early period after death—while cultivating responsibility and compassion toward ancestors and family duties.