Shloka 56

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

दानं प्रेतघटं नाम सर्वाशुभविनाशनम् / दुर्लभं सर्वलोकानां दुर्गतिक्षयकारकम्

Transliteration

dānaṃ pretaghaṭaṃ nāma sarvāśubhavināśanam / durlabhaṃ sarvalokānāṃ durgatikṣayakārakam

Translation

‘پریت-گھٹ’ نامی یہ دان ہر طرح کی اَشُبھتا کو مٹا دیتا ہے۔ یہ سب لوکوں میں نایاب ہے اور بد انجامی (دُرگتی) کا خاتمہ کرنے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

• दानम्: the gift/charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रेतघटम्: (called) the preta-pot
• प्रेतघटम्: Karta (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत-घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (preta-related pot)

• नाम: named; called
• नाम: Sambandha (Appositive marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (particle meaning ‘named/called’)

• सर्वाशुभविनाशनम्: destroying all inauspiciousness
• सर्वाशुभविनाशनम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-अशुभ-विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् अशुभानां विनाशनम् = destroyer of all inauspiciousness)

• दुर्लभम्: rare; hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुर् + लभ = hard to obtain)

• सर्वलोकानाम्: of all people/worlds
• सर्वलोकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (all worlds/people)

• दुर्गतिक्षयकारकम्: causing the end of evil destiny
• दुर्गतिक्षयकारकम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-गति-क्षय-कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दुर्गतेः क्षयं करोति = causing the destruction of bad destiny)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Preta-period śrāddha/charity sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-ghaṭa-dāna destroys aśubha and ends durgati; exceptional merit across realms.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic purification (mala-kṣaya) through prescribed giving; movement from bondage to better gati, preparing ground for higher pursuit.

Application: Include preta-ghaṭa-dāna among key post-death charities; perform with faith, correctness, and timely execution to mitigate inauspicious outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: didactic/ritual context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: catalogues of dānas that remove aśubha and prevent naraka/durgati; Garuda Purana: statements on rarity and greatness of specific śrāddha gifts (śayyā-dāna, ghata-dāna, anna-dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-ghaṭa dāna in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering the ‘preta-ghaṭa’ is a powerful form of dāna that removes inauspicious effects and helps prevent or end a harmful after-death condition (durgati) for the departed.

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

By emphasizing ‘durgati-kṣaya’, it implies that specific post-death gifts and rites can support the preta’s transition and mitigate adverse outcomes linked to karma and ritual deficiency.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related charity with sincerity—especially offerings intended for the departed—and pair it with ethical living, since dāna is presented here as a means to reduce inauspicious consequences.