Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 65

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

दशाहकर्त्रा पिण्डाश्च कर्तव्याः प्रेतभुक्तये / सर्वं वर्षविधिं कुर्यादेवं प्रेतश्च मुक्तिभाक्

Transliteration

daśāhakartrā piṇḍāśca kartavyāḥ pretabhuktaye / sarvaṃ varṣavidhiṃ kuryādevaṃ pretaśca muktibhāk

Translation

Người chủ lễ của nghi thức mười ngày nên dâng các piṇḍa để nuôi dưỡng preta. Cũng hãy thực hiện trọn vẹn các nghi lễ hằng năm; làm như vậy, preta cũng được thọ phần giải thoát.

Word by Word

• daśāhakartrā: by the performer of the ten-day rites
• daśāhakartrā: Karta (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśāhakartṛ (दशाहकर्तृ)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• piṇḍāḥ: rice balls
• piṇḍāḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (पिण्ड)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• kartavyāḥ: should be offered
• kartavyāḥ: Vidheya (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Tavya-pratyaya

• pretabhuktaye: for the consumption of the ghost
• pretabhuktaye: Sampradana (Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pretabhukti (प्रेतभुक्ति)
• Form: Feminine, Dative, Singular

• sarvam: entire/all
• sarvam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• varṣavidhim: yearly rites
• varṣavidhim: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣavidhi (वर्षविधि)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

• evam: thus/in this way
• evam: Manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (एवम्)
• Form: Adverb

• pretaḥ: the ghost
• pretaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रेत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• muktibhāk: partaker of liberation
• muktibhāk: Vidheya (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muktibhāj (मुक्तिभाज्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (Upapada Tatpurusha)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daśāha (ten-day) sequence and the full annual (vārṣika/ābdika) observances.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa offerings nourish the preta; completing ten-day and annual rites leads toward the preta’s liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as supportive means; compassionate duty toward ancestors within the moral fabric of saṃsāra.

Application: Perform the ten-day sequence with piṇḍa offerings and continue yearly śrāddha/annual remembrances consistently, with sincerity and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household ritual space / śrāddha venue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa on preta nourishment via piṇḍa and the daśāha sequence; Broader Garuda Purana śrāddha chapters detailing annual (vārṣika/abdikā) rites and their fruits

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna (rice-ball offerings) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that piṇḍas are to be offered specifically for the preta’s nourishment, supporting the departed during the post-death transitional state.

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

It presents the preta stage as a condition needing ritual support (daśāha and annual rites), and teaches that proper observances aid the departed toward release (mukti).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform the prescribed post-death rites responsibly—especially daśāha and yearly śrāddha—with sincerity and ethical living, treating them as duties of care for ancestors.