Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 62

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

देवब्राह्मणविद्वेष्टा लालाभक्षे पतत्यपि / कुण्डकर्ता कुलालश्च न्यासहर्ता चिकित्सकः

Transliteration

devabrāhmaṇavidveṣṭā lālābhakṣe patatyapi / kuṇḍakartā kulālaśca nyāsahartā cikitsakaḥ

Translation

যে দেব ও ব্রাহ্মণের প্রতি বিদ্বেষ পোষে, সে অপবিত্র লালাভক্ষ্যেই জীবিকা করলেও পতিত হয়। তদ্রূপ কুণ্ড-নির্মাতা, কুমোর, আমানত (ন্যাস) হরণকারী, এবং কপট চিকিৎসক—এরাও পতিত গণ্য।

Word by Word

• देवब्राह्मणविद्वेष्टा: hater of gods and Brahmins
• देवब्राह्मणविद्वेष्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्वेष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; √द्विष्, तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च विद्वेष्टा)

• लालाभक्षे: in the eating of saliva/filth
• लालाभक्षे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाला (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लालायाः भक्षः/भक्षणम्)

• पतति: falls
• पतति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• कुण्डकर्ता: maker of pits/bowls (kuṇḍa-maker)
• कुण्डकर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ, तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुण्डस्य कर्ता)

• कुलालः: potter
• कुलालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• न्यासहर्ता: stealer of deposits/trust property
• न्यासहर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ, तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (न्यासस्य हर्ता)

• चिकित्सकः: physician
• चिकित्सकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकित्सक (प्रातिपदिक; √कित्स्/√चिकित्स् व्युत्पत्तिः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hatred toward devas and brāhmaṇas, impurity-driven living, breach of trust (nyāsa-haraṇa), and unethical practice (notably in medicine) are spiritually ruinous.

Vedantic Theme: Dveṣa (hatred) and adharma corrode sattva; betrayal of trust and misuse of knowledge (including healing arts) bind one to papa; reverence and integrity support inner purification.

Application: Cultivate respect for sacred institutions/teachers; avoid hate-driven conduct; uphold fiduciary trust; practice professions (including healthcare) with strict ethics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of patita/pāpa categories (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of condemning hatred toward Devas and Brahmanas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats malice toward sacred beings and custodians of dharma as a grave moral fall, emphasizing that inner hostility itself becomes a cause of karmic decline.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s fate after death in the Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda links specific unethical traits and actions with post-death consequences; the verse lists categories of people considered “fallen,” implying adverse results in Yama’s domain due to such karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid contempt for sacred traditions and those dedicated to learning; be honest with entrusted property, and practice professions (especially medicine) with integrity and non-exploitation.