Shloka 13

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

प्रथमे ऽह्नि द्वितीये च तृतीये च तथा खग / आकाशस्थं पिबेद्दुग्धं प्रेतो वायुवपुर्धरः

Transliteration

prathame 'hni dvitīye ca tṛtīye ca tathā khaga / ākāśasthaṃ pibeddugdhaṃ preto vāyuvapurdharaḥ

Translation

โอ้พญานก (ครุฑ)! ในวันแรก วันที่สอง และวันที่สามด้วย เปรตผู้มีเรือนกายละเอียดดุจลม ย่อมดื่มน้ำนมที่ตั้งบูชาไว้ในอากาศ (ที่โล่ง)

Word by Word

• prathame: on the first (day)
• prathame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ordinal adjective used substantively ("on the first")

• ahni: on the day
• ahni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; irregular stem (ahan)

• dvitīye: on the second (day)
• dvitīye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ordinal adjective used substantively

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• tṛtīye: on the third (day)
• tṛtīye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ordinal adjective used substantively

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• khaga: O bird
• khaga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address to "bird" (epithet)

• ākāśa-stham: being in the sky
• ākāśa-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ākāśe stham = "situated in the sky"; agrees with dugdham

• pibet: should drink
• pibet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• dugdham: milk
• dugdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dugdha (प्रातिपदिक; past participle of √duh दुह्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used as object

• pretaḥ: the departed spirit (preta)
• pretaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vāyu-vapuḥ-dharaḥ: bearing a body of air
• vāyu-vapuḥ-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + vapuḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: vāyoḥ vapuḥ = "air-body" + dhara = "bearing"; qualifies pretaḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Days 1–3 after death

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The preta with a vāyu-like subtle body is sustained through properly directed offerings in the immediate days after death.

Vedantic Theme: Sūkṣma-śarīra and post-mortem continuity under karma; dharma as compassionate duty toward the departed.

Application: Perform early-day post-death offerings with correct intention and placement, understanding the rite as support for the departed’s transitional state.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (aerial offering)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: early preta-nourishment through offerings (milk/water/piṇḍa) in the first days; Garuda Purana: descriptions of sūkṣma-śarīra and preta’s dependence on śrāddha/udaka

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of offering milk in the first three days according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that in the first three days the preta, having a subtle wind-like body, is sustained by drinking milk offered in the open space—indicating an early post-death rite meant to support the departed during the initial preta phase.

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

It describes the departed as a preta with a vāyuvapu (wind-like subtle body), implying a non-gross embodiment that receives sustenance through ritual offerings rather than ordinary physical food.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages timely, sincere post-death observances (as per one’s tradition) and reminds the living to act with dharma and compassion, recognizing the vulnerability of the departed in the immediate after-death period.