Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

सर्वदानाधिकञ्चैतन्महापातकनाशनम् / कर्तव्यं श्रद्धया राजन्प्रेतत्वविनिवृत्तये

Transliteration

sarvadānādhikañcaitanmahāpātakanāśanam / kartavyaṃ śraddhayā rājanpretatvavinivṛttaye

Translation

Việc này vượt hơn mọi bố thí và tiêu trừ cả những trọng tội. Vì thế, tâu Đại vương, hãy làm với lòng tin, để chấm dứt cảnh giới preta.

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; ‘सर्वदान’ इत्यत्र विशेषणम्

• दान: gift, donation
• दान: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, समासपूर्वपद

• अधिकम्: superior, greater
• अधिकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (एतत्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम्

• एतत्: this (act)
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• महापातक: great sin
• महापातक: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (महच्च तत् पातकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (नाशनम् इत्यस्य)

• नाशनम्: destroyer, removal
• नाशनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; √नश्/√नाश्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विधेयम्

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्) ‘कर्तव्य’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (एतत्)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

• प्रेतत्व: state of being a preta
• प्रेतत्व: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/तद्धित-निर्मित (प्रेतस्य भावः ‘त्व’); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (विनिवृत्तये इत्यस्य)

• विनिवृत्तये: for cessation/removal
• विनिवृत्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनिवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; वि-नि-√वृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing the listener as 'O King' in the narrative style)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As a faith-performed remedial rite within death-related observances to prevent/terminate preta-state.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A specific mahādāna functions as powerful expiation, destroying even mahāpātakas and preventing preta-state; śraddhā is essential for fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic bondage can be attenuated through dharmic action supported by faith; purification prepares for higher pursuit (mokṣa).

Application: When facing grave wrongdoing or fear of consequences, adopt sincere corrective action: confession, restitution, disciplined charity, and sustained ethical reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.27.57-59 (the rite’s components); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes on preta-state and remedies (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of this teaching in the Garuda Purana?

It declares a specific prescribed rite (performed with shraddhā) as the highest form of giving and as capable of destroying major sins, with the direct aim of ending the preta-condition after death.

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

It implies that without proper faith-filled observances, a departed being may remain in a preta-like state; the recommended act functions as a remedial rite to restore progress beyond that liminal condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death duties and charitable acts with sincerity (not mechanically), focusing on compassionate giving and proper shraddha observance as a dharmic support for the departed and moral purification for the living.