Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

व्यञ्जनानि विचित्राणि भक्ष्यभोज्यानि यानि च / ददाति विधिना पुत्र प्रेते तदु पतिष्ठति

Transliteration

vyañjanāni vicitrāṇi bhakṣyabhojyāni yāni ca / dadāti vidhinā putra prete tadu patiṣṭhati

Translation

อาหารคาวหวานและของเสวยนานาชนิดใด ๆ ที่บุตรถวายตามพิธีอันถูกต้อง เครื่องบูชานั้นย่อมตั้งมั่นเป็นส่วนของเปรต และเกื้อหนุนเขาในภาวะหลังความตาย।

Word by Word

• व्यञ्जनानि: condiments; side-dishes
• व्यञ्जनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विचित्राणि: variegated; various
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• भक्ष्यभोज्यानि: foods to be eaten and to be enjoyed (edibles and dishes)
• भक्ष्यभोज्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative)

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधिना: according to rule; by proper procedure
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (means)

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रेते: when (he is) a departed spirit; in the state of being dead
• प्रेते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अन्वयार्थक सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• उ: indeed; then
• उ: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/continuation)

• पतिष्ठति: stands firm; is established; benefits (him)
• पतिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; (पाठभेद/रूपभेद: प्रतिष्ठति इत्यर्थः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing śrāddha and offerings for the preta)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death period; offerings given by the son according to vidhi (as part of śrāddha sequence).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritually offered food (anna) and enjoyables, given with vidhi, become effective sustenance for the preta.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and subtle continuity: intentional action (saṅkalpa + vidhi) yields results across realms; the subtle body remains an experiencer.

Application: Perform śrāddha/offerings with correct procedure and sincerity; treat feeding/offerings as real support to ancestors, not mere symbolism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-anna reaching the preta; repeated emphasis that vidhi determines efficacy; Garuda Purana: pinda/udaka as preta-support during the journey to Yama

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of food offerings (bhakṣya-bhojya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that properly offered foods and prepared dishes become ‘established’ for the departed, meaning they are considered to reach and support the preta when given according to rite.

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

It highlights the preta-phase after death and teaches that ritual actions by the living—especially the son’s prescribed offerings—provide sustenance and aid to the departed during this transitional state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha or memorial offerings with sincerity and proper procedure, emphasizing disciplined giving (vidhi) and ethical living, since the text links correct ritual duty with tangible benefit to the departed.