Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

ताम्बूलं दन्तकाष्ठञ्च भोजनं ऋतुसेवनम् / ग्राममध्ये स्थिते प्रेते वर्जयेत् पिण्डपातनम्

Transliteration

tāmbūlaṃ dantakāṣṭhañca bhojanaṃ ṛtusevanam / grāmamadhye sthite prete varjayet piṇḍapātanam

Translation

إذا كان البريتا (روح الميت) باقياً داخل القرية، فليمتنع المرء عن مضغ التامبول، واستعمال عود تنظيف الأسنان، وتناول الطعام، والانغماس في لذّات المواسم؛ وليكفّ أيضاً عن تقديم البِنْدا (كرات الأرزّ الجنائزية) في وسط القرية.

Word by Word

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (chewing)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दन्तकाष्ठम्: tooth-stick
• दन्तकाष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दन्तस्य काष्ठम्)

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

• भोजनम्: food, eating
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋतुसेवनम्: seasonal intercourse / indulgence in season
• ऋतुसेवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ऋतोः सेवनम्)

• ग्राममध्ये: in the middle of the village
• ग्राममध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (ग्रामस्य मध्ये)

• स्थिते: when (he is) situated/present
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘प्रेते’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रेते: when a departed one (preta) is (there)
• प्रेते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पिण्डपातनम्: offering/dropping of rice-balls (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डपातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य पातनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the period when the preta/death-presence remains within the village (aśauca interval)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aśauca-niyama: when a preta/death-presence is within the village, one should suspend pleasures and avoid performing piṇḍa in the village center.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi as a prerequisite for sattva and higher pursuit; regulation of conduct to reduce rajas/tamas during impurity.

Application: During a death in the community/household, observe prescribed restraint (no tāmbūla, tooth-stick, meals/pleasures as per rule) and perform piṇḍa only in ritually appropriate places, not in public/village center.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: settlement/community space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-aśauca sections on grāma-śuddhi and preta-avasthā restraints; Adjacent verses 2.35.43-44 on purification duties and kin-neglect sin

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding piṇḍa-dāna in the middle of the village according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that when the preta is considered to be present within the village sphere, piṇḍa offerings should not be performed in the village center; the rite should be done in a ritually appropriate place to maintain śauca (purity) and proper procedure.

How does this verse relate to the preta state described in the Garuda Purana?

It presumes an interim preta condition where the departed is not fully transitioned; therefore, the household follows restraint (abstinence from pleasures and routine enjoyments) and performs rites with careful attention to place and purity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe disciplined simplicity during mourning, follow family/ācārya guidance on śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna locations, and treat death-rites as structured dharma rather than casual or public-facing ritual activity.