Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

गरुड उवाच / कथयस्व प्रसादेन क्षयाहं चौर्ध्वदैहिकम् / कस्मिन्काले तिथौ कस्यां विधिना केन तद्भवेत्

Transliteration

garuḍa uvāca / kathayasva prasādena kṣayāhaṃ caurdhvadaihikam / kasminkāle tithau kasyāṃ vidhinā kena tadbhavet

Translation

گرُڑ نے کہا—اے پروردگار! کرم فرما کر کَشیَاہ (سالانہ شرادھ) اور اُردھودَیہِک کرموں کی وضاحت کیجیے۔ یہ کس وقت، کس تِتھی میں، اور کس طریقے سے انجام دیے جائیں؟

Word by Word

• गरुडः: Garuḍa
• गरुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कथयस्व: tell (me)
• कथयस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• प्रसादेन: by (your) grace/favor
• प्रसादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘प्रसादेन’ = कृपया (by grace)

• क्षयाहम्: the kṣaya-day (death-anniversary day)
• क्षयाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘क्षयस्य अहः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः

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

• ऊर्ध्वदैहिकम्: post-death (funerary/after-body)
• ऊर्ध्वदैहिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दैहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘ऊर्ध्वं देहात्’ इत्यर्थे तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषणम् (कर्म/विधि-प्रकारस्य)

• कस्मिन्: in which
• कस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• काले: time
• काले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तिथौ: lunar day (tithi)
• तिथौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कस्याम्: in which (fem.)
• कस्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• विधिना: by what procedure
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• केन: by which/with what
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवेत्: may/should occur/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Asking specifically for kṣayāha (annual śrāddha) and ūrdhva-daehika timing by month/tithi and proper vidhi.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct timing (kāla), tithi, and procedure (vidhi) are essential for kṣayāha and ūrdhva-daehika rites for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a means to order post-mortem welfare; śāstra-guided action (vidhi) as purifier and supporter of ancestral continuity.

Application: Consult tradition/competent priests for annual śrāddha (kṣayāha) and post-death rites; follow calendrical rules and proper procedure rather than improvisation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14.18 (query about phala and liberation by Govinda’s grace); Garuda Purana śrāddha/pretakalpa chapters detailing ekoddiṣṭa, sapīṇḍīkaraṇa, parvaṇa rites (contextual internal linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of kṣayāha and ūrdhva-daehika in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames them as essential, rule-bound rites for the departed, emphasizing correct timing (kāla/tithi) and proper procedure (vidhi) rather than mere sentiment.

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

Indirectly, it shows that the post-death journey is supported by specific ancestral rites; Garuḍa asks for the exact calendrical and ritual rules that govern those offerings for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or annual remembrance rites, prioritize correct observance—consult a competent priest/pāñcāṅga for the right tithi and follow a prescribed vidhi—treating the ritual as a disciplined dharmic duty.