Shloka 6

The Destiny of Those Who Die Through Fasting & the Procedure of Udakumbha-dāna

Devanagari script

प्रेतस्य तत्र दातव्यं भाजनञ्च यदृच्छया / सुप्रीतस्तेन दत्तेन प्रेतो याम्यैः स गच्छति

Transliteration

pretasya tatra dātavyaṃ bhājanañca yadṛcchayā / suprītastena dattena preto yāmyaiḥ sa gacchati

Translation

وہاں پریت کے لیے حسبِ استطاعت ایک برتن (بھکشا پاتر) دان کرنا چاہیے؛ اس دان سے خوش ہو کر پریت یم کے دوتوں کے ساتھ آگے بڑھتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• pretasya: of the deceased/ghost
• pretasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रेत)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tatra: there / in that ritual
• tatra: Adhikaranavachaka (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (तत्र)
• Form: Adverb of place

• dātavyam: should be given
• dātavyam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (दा)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Tavya Pratyaya (Gerundive)

• bhājanam: vessel/pot
• bhājanam: Karma (Object/कर्म) - Passive construction subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhājana (भाजन)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• yadṛcchayā: voluntarily / according to wish
• yadṛcchayā: Karana (Instrument/करण) or Adverbial
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadṛcchā (यदृच्छा)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• suprītaḥ: well pleased
• suprītaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suprīta (सुप्रीत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tena: by that
• tena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dattena: by the gift/giving
• dattena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (दत्त)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; Past Passive Participle used as noun

• pretaḥ: the deceased/ghost
• pretaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रेत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yāmyaiḥ: with the servants of Yama
• yāmyaiḥ: Sahartha (Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāmya (याम्य)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier to pretaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even modest gifts (yadṛcchayā) offered with intent generate benefit; satisfaction (suprīti) of the preta facilitates orderly progression under cosmic law (Yama).

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s subtle continuity beyond death; dharma as compassionate support within the governed moral universe (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Provide a usable vessel/container as capacity allows, as part of preta-support rites, trusting that sincere offering bears fruit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: afterlife route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: yama-dūta escort motifs; preta’s dependence on offerings from descendants; Garuda Purana: lists of dāna items (pātra, vastra, anna, udaka) that aid the departed

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Yama
• Yamadutas (Yamya beings/attendants)

FAQs

What is the importance of donating a vessel (bhājana) for the preta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that giving a bhājana as part of preta-related rites pleases the departed spirit; that satisfaction supports its onward movement on Yama’s path, indicating the ritual gift’s supportive role in post-death transition.

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

It portrays the preta as traveling under the jurisdiction of Yama, accompanied by Yama’s attendants; offerings made by the living are described as directly affecting the preta’s state (being ‘pleased’) and its ability to proceed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral/preta rites with sincerity and within one’s means (yadṛcchayā), emphasizing thoughtful charity and dutiful remembrance rather than extravagance.