Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 14

Preta-bhāva: Causes, Remedies, and the Rationale of Post-death Rites

Question-Catalogue

Devanagari script

यमसूक्तं किमर्थं च उदीचीं दिशमाहरेत् / पानीयमेकवस्त्रेण सूर्यबिम्बनिरीक्षणम्

Transliteration

yamasūktaṃ kimarthaṃ ca udīcīṃ diśamāharet / pānīyamekavastreṇa sūryabimbanirīkṣaṇam

Translation

یَم سوکت کس غرض سے پڑھا جاتا ہے؟ اور رسم کو شمالی سمت کی طرف کیوں لایا جاتا ہے؟ ایک ہی کپڑا پہن کر آب دان اور سورج کے قرص کا دیدار کیوں کیا جاتا ہے؟

Word by Word

• yama-sūktam: the hymn to Yama
• yama-sūktam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + sūkta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘yamasya sūktam’)

• kimartham: why?
• kimartham: Sambandha (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kimartham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्ययम् (interrogative: ‘why/for what purpose’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• udīcīm: northward, northern
• udīcīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udīcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; दिशम् इति विशेषणम्

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• āharet: should bring/should take
• āharet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (हृ-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः आ-

• pānīyam: water (drinkable water)
• pānīyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pānīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्

• eka-vastreṇa: with one cloth/garment
• eka-vastreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (‘ekena vastreṇa’ = with a single cloth)

• sūrya-bimba-nirīkṣaṇam: viewing the sun’s disc
• sūrya-bimba-nirīkṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + bimba (प्रातिपदिक) + nirīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘sūryasya bimbasya nirīkṣaṇam’)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) questioning Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During antyeṣṭi/udaka-kriyā sequence (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra (Yama-sūkta), dik-niyama (northward), and niyama (single garment, water offering, sun-gazing) encode purification and guidance for the departed and the living.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual as embodied cosmology; external order supports inner steadiness and remembrance of dharma.

Application: Perform rites with mindful symbolism: maintain simplicity (single garment), offer water with focus, and use sun-gazing only as a brief, safe, reverential act (not harmful staring).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional-ritual axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections prescribing Yama-related mantras, dik-niyama in antyeṣṭi, and tarpaṇa/udaka-kriyā procedures

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of the Yama-sūkta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Yama-sūkta as a deliberate ritual element connected to Yama’s jurisdiction over the departed, prompting an explanation of how mantras align the rite with the soul’s post-death passage and judgment.

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

By asking about Yama, the northern direction, water offering, and sun-disc gazing, the verse points to a structured ritual symbolism meant to support the preta’s transition—linking cosmic order (Sun), directional discipline, and Yama’s realm in the after-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat death rites as disciplined, meaning-driven observances—performing them with clarity, purity, and correct orientation/mantra intent—so the actions become conscious supports for remembrance, duty (dharma), and respectful closure.