Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

शुभे लग्ने मुहूर्ते वा शुचौ देशे समाहितः / ब्राह्मणं तु समाहूय विधिज्ञं शुभलक्षणम्

Transliteration

śubhe lagne muhūrte vā śucau deśe samāhitaḥ / brāhmaṇaṃ tu samāhūya vidhijñaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam

Translation

Vào lúc cát tường theo tinh tú hoặc đúng muhūrta, tại nơi thanh tịnh sạch sẽ, với tâm an định và chuyên chú, nên thỉnh một vị Bà-la-môn—người thông hiểu nghi quỹ và mang tướng mạo cát tường।

Word by Word

• śubhe: in an auspicious (time)
• śubhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• lagne: at the auspicious ascendant/time
• lagne: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• muhūrte: at a (proper) muhurta
• muhūrte: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle: or)

• śucau: in a pure (place)
• śucau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• deśe: in a place
• deśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• samāhitaḥ: being composed/collected (in mind)
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-dhā (धा धातु) + kta (क्त) → samāhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• brāhmaṇam: a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (but/indeed)

• samāhūya: having summoned
• samāhūya: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-hū (हू धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यप्) → samāhūya (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund): ‘having called/summoned’

• vidhijñam: knowing the rites/rules
• vidhijñam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhi + jña (प्रातिपदिक); समासः: vidhijña
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘vidheḥ jñaḥ’); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (brāhmaṇam)

• śubhalakṣaṇam: of auspicious marks/characteristics
• śubhalakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक); समासः: śubhalakṣaṇa
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (‘śubhaṃ lakṣaṇam yasya’/‘śubha-lakṣaṇa’); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (brāhmaṇam)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: śubha lagna/muhūrta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on right time (lagna/muhūrta), right place (śuci-deśa), right inner state (samāhita), and right officiant (vidhijña brāhmaṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a purifier and harmonizer when performed with niyama; outer order supports inner sattva.

Application: Choose an auspicious time, maintain cleanliness, cultivate mental steadiness, and engage a competent priest for funerary/śrāddha-related procedures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site/śmaśāna-adjacent or household ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14 (context: antyeṣṭi/śrāddha procedural sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin

FAQs

What is the importance of choosing an auspicious muhurta in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes that rites should be begun at a शुभ लग्न/मuhurta—proper timing supports orderly, dharmic performance of post-death duties and reduces ritual faults.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By instructing correct ritual setup (pure place, composed mind, qualified priest), the text frames rites as supports for the preta’s transition and the family’s fulfillment of dharma during the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform key rites in a clean, calm setting, consult tradition for appropriate timing, and engage a competent priest who understands the procedures rather than relying only on outward formality.