Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 58

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

श्लेष्माश्रु बान्धवैर्मुक्तं प्रेतो भुङ्क्ते यतो ऽवशः / अतो न रोदितव्यं हि क्रियाः कार्याः स्वशक्तितः

Transliteration

śleṣmāśru bāndhavairmuktaṃ preto bhuṅkte yato 'vaśaḥ / ato na roditavyaṃ hi kriyāḥ kāryāḥ svaśaktitaḥ

Translation

Der Preta ist hilflos und wird gezwungen, den Schleim und die Tränen zu verzehren, die von den Angehörigen vergossen werden. Darum soll man nicht klagen; vielmehr sind die vorgeschriebenen Riten nach eigener Kraft zu vollziehen.

Word by Word

• श्लेष्माश्रु: phlegm and tears
• श्लेष्माश्रु: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (श्लेष्म च अश्रु च)

• बान्धवैः: by relatives
• बान्धवैः: Kartr/Hetu (Agent/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मुक्तम्: shed/released
• मुक्तम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (released/shed)

• प्रेतः: the departed spirit (preta)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भुङ्क्ते: consumes/enjoys
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (causal/relative adverb: 'because/for which reason')

• अवशः: helpless, involuntary
• अवशः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रेतस्य विशेषणम्

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu/Upasamhara (Conclusion marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: निदर्शन/निष्कर्ष-अव्यय (therefore)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• रोदितव्यम्: (it) should be wept (i.e., one should weep)
• रोदितव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/Prohibition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-भावे निषेधः (should not be cried/one should not weep)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्रियाः: rites/actions
• क्रियाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कार्याः: should be performed
• कार्याः: Kriya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियाः इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be done)

• स्वशक्तितः: according to one’s ability
• स्वशक्तितः: Kriya-viseshana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'according to/from one's capacity'); अव्ययीभावः (स्वशक्त्या इति अर्थः)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the immediate post-death period when kriyā are performed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Interconnected consequence: relatives’ tears become a burden/forced ‘food’ for the preta; therefore, do not wail—perform rites within capacity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and dependency in saṃsāra; disciplined action (dharma) reduces suffering in transitional states.

Application: Restrain excessive lamentation; focus energy on prescribed post-death rites (udaka, śrāddha, offerings) according to means.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.57 (no tears; offer water); Garuda Purana 2.15.59–60 (offerings and the bound preta’s journey)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Bandhava (relatives)

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling excessive mourning in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that uncontrolled weeping burdens the preta; instead, the family should focus on helpful rites (kriyāḥ) that support the departed according to dharma.

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

It reflects the intermediate preta-condition where the departed is described as dependent and vulnerable, affected by the actions and emotional outpourings of relatives, and benefited more by proper post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Grieve with restraint, avoid prolonged wailing, and prioritize performing funeral/shraddha duties responsibly—within one’s means—so support is expressed through dharmic action rather than destabilizing lamentation.