Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 19

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

आग्नेय्यां चाथ रौद्राय याम्यां सूर्यद्विजाय तु / विश्वेभ्यश्चाथ देवेभ्यस्तिलपात्रं निवेदयेत्

Transliteration

āgneyyāṃ cātha raudrāya yāmyāṃ sūryadvijāya tu / viśvebhyaścātha devebhyastilapātraṃ nivedayet

Translation

于东南方——阿耆尼之方——当以盛满芝麻之器供奉鲁陀罗神；于南方——阎摩之向——当供奉苏利耶，并供奉诸二生者（婆罗门）。同样，也当向毗湿维天众（Viśvedevas）奉献芝麻之器。

Word by Word

• आग्नेय्याम्: in the southeast (Agni’s quarter)
• आग्नेय्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिक्/दिशा-विशेष (direction)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequencing particle)

• रौद्राय: to (the deity of) Rudra / the Rudra-portion
• रौद्राय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (or adjective used substantively)

• याम्याम्: in the south (Yama’s quarter)
• याम्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिक्-विशेष (southern quarter)

• सूर्यद्विजाय: to the Sūrya-Brahmin
• सूर्यद्विजाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सूर्यस्य द्विजः’/‘सूर्य-सम्बन्धी द्विजः’ (Brahmin connected with Sūrya)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोध (particle)

• विश्वेभ्यः: to the Viśvedevas
• विश्वेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (4th/5th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रमसूचक

• देवेभ्यः: to the gods
• देवेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तिलपात्रम्: a sesame-vessel (sesame offering bowl)
• तिलपात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तिलानां पात्रम्’ (a vessel of sesame)

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद्/वेद् (धातु; causative sense ‘to present’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: नि-

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha ancillary offerings arranged by quarters (dik).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual geography: correct placement by direction and correct recipient (Rudra/Sūrya/brāhmaṇas/Viśvedevas) ensures harmony between human act and cosmic administration.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnected order (ṛta) where space, deity, and act correspond; disciplined action refines the mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: When performing rites, follow spatial instructions carefully; treat ‘where’ and ‘to whom’ as part of ethical accuracy, not superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional-quarters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (directional offerings; tilapātra usage in śrāddha context)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (direction/quarter)
• Rudra
• Yama (direction/quarter)
• Surya
• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Vishvedevas
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of offering a tilapātra (sesame vessel) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats tilapātra as a prescribed ritual offering to specific deities and sacred recipients; sesame is used as a purificatory, merit-bearing substance in rites connected with śrāddha and preta-related observances.

Why are offerings linked to directions like Agni’s quarter and Yama’s quarter?

The verse maps recipients to dik (quarters): Agni’s quarter for a Rudra-related offering and the southern (Yama) quarter for Sūrya and dvijas, reflecting the ritual cosmology where directions organize sacred acts for order, protection, and proper transmission of offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial charity, one can emphasize disciplined giving—especially sesame-based dāna and respectful offerings to qualified priests/Brāhmaṇas—done with clarity of intention and adherence to traditional procedure.