Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 31

Entry into Yama’s Abode; Nature, Causes, and Signs of the Preta-State

Devanagari script

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेषु धर्मशास्त्रसमुद्भवे / अभावो जायते धर्मे सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

śrutismṛtipurāṇeṣu dharmaśāstrasamudbhave / abhāvo jāyate dharme sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

إذا أُهمِلَت تعاليم الشروتي والسمريتي والپورانا—وهي الأصول التي ينبثق منها شاسترا الدharma—وقع الانحطاط في الدharma؛ وذلك الانحطاط يصير عذابًا يفضي إلى حال «البريتا».

Word by Word

• śruti-smṛti-purāṇeṣu: in the Śruti, Smṛti, and Purāṇas
• śruti-smṛti-purāṇeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास; Locative plural (in the śruti, smṛti, and purāṇas)

• dharma-śāstra-samudbhave: in that which arises from dharma-śāstra (scriptural law)
• dharma-śāstra-samudbhave: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: धर्मशास्त्रस्य समुद्भवः); सप्तमी (in/with regard to what arises from dharma-śāstra)

• abhāvaḥ: absence, loss
• abhāvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• jāyate: arises, comes to be
• jāyate: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; arises/is born

• dharme: in dharma, in righteousness
• dharme: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• sā: that
• sā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pīḍā: affliction
• pīḍā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• preta-sambhavā: arising from a preta
• preta-sambhavā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; agrees with pīḍā

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of śruti-smṛti-purāṇa undermines dharma; adharma becomes a torment linked to preta-condition.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-pramāṇa as guide for right living; ignorance (avidyā) expressed as disregard for dharma leading to suffering.

Application: Study and apply dharma teachings; keep daily disciplines (nitya-karma), seek guidance from learned teachers, and correct drift through vows, charity, and repentance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma and śrāddha sections emphasizing śāstra-based conduct; Pretakalpa passages linking adharma to preta outcomes

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of Shruti, Smriti, and Purana teachings in Garuda Purana?

This verse says they are foundational sources for Dharma-śāstra; neglecting them creates a deficiency in dharma that results in painful after-death consequences.

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

It links moral and scriptural neglect in life to post-mortem distress, describing that dharmic decline can culminate in the preta state—restlessness and suffering after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dharmic conduct guided by trustworthy scripture and ethical discipline; regular study, right livelihood, and sincere rites for ancestors help prevent the conditions associated with preta-affliction.