Shloka 5

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

प्रतिसंवत्सरं पक्षिन्नेकोद्दिष्टविधानतः / श्राद्धं तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं फलं तस्य शृणुष्व मे

Transliteration

pratisaṃvatsaraṃ pakṣinnekoddiṣṭavidhānataḥ / śrāddhaṃ tatra prakartavyaṃ phalaṃ tasya śṛṇuṣva me

Translation

โอ้ท่านนก (ครุฑ)! ในทุกปี พึงประกอบศราทธ์ ณ ที่นั้นเพื่อเขา ตามวิธีแห่งเอก็อดทิษฏะ (Ekoddiṣṭa); จงฟังผลบุญแห่งการปฏิบัตินั้นจากเรา

Word by Word

• प्रतिसंवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रतिसंवत्सरम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: every year)

• पक्षिन्: O bird
• पक्षिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• एकोद्दिष्टविधानतः: according to the ekoddiṣṭa procedure
• एकोद्दिष्टविधानतः: Hetu/Pramana (Basis/हेतु-प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकोद्दिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: according to/from); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (एकोद्दिष्टस्य विधानम्) + तसिल् (तः)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• तत्र: there/therein
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: there/in that context)

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: to be performed
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—कर्तव्यं (to be performed)

• फलम्: result/fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that/of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मे: to me / of me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Every year (prati-saṃvatsaram)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya/naimittika śrāddha performed annually by ekoddiṣṭa-vidhi yields specific phala for the departed and merit for the performer.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a means of purification and compassionate duty; ritual action supports sattva and remembrance, preparing mind for bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Schedule an annual ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha on the appropriate tithi; follow vidhi carefully (saṅkalpa, āvāhana, offering, dakṣiṇā) and document observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Direct continuation from 2.8.4; phala to be detailed in subsequent verses (implied)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states it should be performed yearly according to its specific injunctions, indicating it is a continuing duty toward the departed and is believed to yield a definite spiritual “phala” (benefit).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, rites like Ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha are presented as supportive observances for the departed condition (preta stage), and Vishnu signals that the results of such rites directly matter for the deceased’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows śrāddha traditions, this verse supports doing an annual, properly prescribed Ekoddiṣṭa-style offering for departed relatives, emphasizing regular remembrance, duty (dharma), and disciplined ritual observance.