Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 62

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

उदकुम्भेन पुष्टानि तान्यस्थीनि भवन्ति हि / एतस्माद्दीयते कुम्भः प्रीतिः प्रेतस्य जायते

Transliteration

udakumbhena puṣṭāni tānyasthīni bhavanti hi / etasmāddīyate kumbhaḥ prītiḥ pretasya jāyate

Translation

اُدکُمبھ کے دان سے وہ (لطیف اجزاء) پرورش پا کر ہڈیاں بن جاتے ہیں۔ اسی لیے کُمبھ دیا جاتا ہے؛ اس سے پریت کو راحت اور تسکین حاصل ہوتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• uda-kumbhena: by/with a water-pot
• uda-kumbhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental; tatpuruṣa: udakasya kumbhaḥ ‘water-pot’

• puṣṭāni: nourished
• puṣṭāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √puṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत्) → puṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; past passive participle (क्त) agreeing with asthīni

• tāni: those
• tāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; demonstrative pronoun

• asthīni: bones
• asthīni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; subject of bhavanti

• bhavanti: become/are
• bhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चय/हेतु)

• etasmāt: from this
• etasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; ablative ‘from this’

• dīyate: is given
• dīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada passive (कर्मणि) ‘is given’

• kumbhaḥ: a pot
• kumbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of dīyate

• prītiḥ: satisfaction/pleasure
• prītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of jāyate

• pretasya: of the departed spirit
• pretasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive

• jāyate: arises
• jāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; ‘arises/is born’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death sequence connected with ekādaśāha onward; kumbha-giving as part of preta-support rites.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual causality: udakumbha offerings ‘nourish’ subtle constituents culminating in bones; giving the pot yields preta-prīti (satisfaction).

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity under karma; compassionate action (anukampā) expressed through prescribed rites; the living’s duty supports orderly transition.

Application: Perform kumbha-dāna/udaka-related offerings with faith and cleanliness; understand the rite as supportive care for the departed, aiding emotional closure for the family.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/cremation-following ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.60 on daily anna+udaka offerings from the ghaṭa; Garuda Purana preta-śarīra formation teachings (piṇḍa/udaka nourishing limbs) in śrāddha-related passages

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of udaka-kumbha (water-pot offering) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the udaka-kumbha nourishes the preta’s post-death formation—supporting the emergence of bodily structures like bones—thereby giving the departed satisfaction (prīti).

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

It reflects the Garuda Purana’s view that the departed (preta) undergoes a transitional state where ritual offerings materially support its subtle journey; the water-pot offering specifically provides nourishment and relief during this phase.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites with sincerity—especially water offerings and prescribed donations—seeing them as acts of support and compassion for the departed and as dharmic duties for the family.