Shloka 10

Preta-Mokṣa Upāya: Svapna-Lakṣaṇa, Pitṛ-Doṣa, and Prescribed Rites

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

अश्रेयसि प्रवृत्ति च प्रेरयन्ति पुनः पुनः / उच्चाटनं च क्रूरत्वं सर्वं प्रेतकृतं खग

Transliteration

aśreyasi pravṛtti ca prerayanti punaḥ punaḥ / uccāṭanaṃ ca krūratvaṃ sarvaṃ pretakṛtaṃ khaga

Translation

إنهم يدفعون المرءَ مرارًا إلى ما هو غير صالح؛ وكذلك الطردُ المؤذي (الطقوسُ الخبيثة) والقسوةُ أيضًا—يا أيها الطائرُ، غارودا—فكلُّ ذلك من صنيعِ البريتا.

Word by Word

• अश्रेयसि: in what is harmful/inauspicious
• अश्रेयसि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in what is unwholesome)

• प्रवृत्तिम्: activity/engagement
• प्रवृत्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• प्रेरयन्ति: impel/urge
• प्रेरयन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√ईर्/√इर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; कर्तरि (they impel)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक (again)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक (again; repetition)

• उच्चाटनम्: expulsion/banishment (harmful rite)
• उच्चाटनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्-√चट् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नामधातु-निर्मित भाव (driving away/expulsion)

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

• क्रूरत्वम्: cruelty
• क्रूरत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूरत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (cruelty)

• सर्वम्: all (this)
• सर्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार/समुच्चय (all this)

• प्रेतकृतम्: caused/done by a preta
• प्रेतकृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('done by a preta'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सर्वम्)

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-influence drives repeated engagement in aśreyas (unwholesome) and cruelty; even harmful ‘uccāṭana’ tendencies are framed as preta-kṛta (spirit-caused).

Vedantic Theme: Rajas-tamas domination leading to adharma; externalized as graha-like influence, but ultimately remedied by restoring sattva and right discernment.

Application: Treat compulsive cruelty and manipulative ‘driving-away’ harm as red flags; avoid occult harm, seek purification, cultivate compassion, and anchor in dharmic/Vishnu-oriented practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta/bhūta as causes of cruelty, vighna, and mental disturbance; Garuda Purana: admonitions against harmful rites and adharma; śānti measures

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of pretas in the Garuda Purana’s teaching on after-death states?

This verse frames pretas as a source of repeated impulse toward unwholesome actions, showing that unresolved after-death conditions can manifest as harmful influences in the living world.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul and its disturbances?

By attributing cruelty and harmful compulsions to pretas, the text implies that improper post-death transition and unsettled subtle states can lead to disruptive effects, reinforcing the need for dharmic conduct and appropriate rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid cruel or harmful “banishing” practices and cultivate sattvic conduct; support ethical living and, where culturally relevant, perform respectful ancestral/shraddha observances rather than aggressive ritual acts.