Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 29

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

नाभिमूले समास्थाय तदम्बु मूर्धनि न्यसेत् / अन्न (आत्म) श्राद्धं ततः कुर्याद्दद्याद्दानं द्विजोत्तमे

Transliteration

nābhimūle samāsthāya tadambu mūrdhani nyaset / anna (ātma) śrāddhaṃ tataḥ kuryāddadyāddānaṃ dvijottame

Translation

Tumindig sa may ugat ng pusod at ilagay ang tubig na iyon sa tuktok ng ulo. Pagkatapos, isagawa ang śrāddha na handog na pagkain (para sa sarili/kaluluwa) at magbigay ng dāna, kawanggawa, sa isang dakilang brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• नाभि-मूले: at the base of the navel
• नाभि-मूले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘navel’ + ‘root/base’)

• समास्थाय: having stood/positioned oneself
• समास्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+आ+स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having stood/placed oneself’

• तत्-अम्बु: that water
• तत्-अम्बु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘that’ + ‘water’)

• मूर्धनि: on the head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+अस्/स्य (धातु; न्यस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्न-श्राद्धम्: food-offering śrāddha
• अन्न-श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘food’ + ‘śrāddha’)

• आत्म-श्राद्धम्: śrāddha for oneself (variant)
• आत्म-श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; पाठान्तर/विकल्प (variant reading)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Sequence/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (sequential adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दानम्: a gift, charity
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• द्विज-उत्तमे: to/for the best brāhmaṇa (excellent twice-born)
• द्विज-उत्तमे: Sampradana/Adhikarana (Recipient/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘twice-born’ + ‘best’); संबोधनार्थेऽपि प्रयोगः (often used as address)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After abhiṣeka placement of Rudra-kumbha water; then anna-śrāddha is performed, followed by dāna.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification (abhiṣeka) followed by śrāddha and dāna produces merit and pacifies subtle obligations (ṛṇa) toward ancestors and society.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as purifier and harmonizer of relationships; dāna reduces possessiveness (mamatā) and supports sattva.

Application: After any inner renewal, seal it with tangible service: feed others, give charity, and honor elders/lineage—turning purification into compassionate action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (near vedi; later feeding/gifting area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14.25 (homa completion context); Garuda Purana 2.14.28 (Rudra-kumbha water used for abhiṣeka)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Dvija)

FAQs

What is the importance of anna śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents anna-śrāddha as a required step after the water rite, emphasizing food-offerings as a key ritual support for the departed/self in post-death observances.

How does this verse connect ritual water actions with śrāddha and dāna?

It sequences the acts: first applying the ritual water to the head, then performing anna-śrāddha, and finally giving charitable gifts—showing a complete rite that joins purification, offering, and merit through giving.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When conducting śrāddha-related observances, keep the order and intent clear: perform rites with cleanliness and focus, and pair ritual acts with sincere charity (especially food/support) to worthy recipients.