Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

भावशुद्ध्या न कुरुते श्राद्धं सांवत्सरादिकम् / स्वयमेव न कुर्वीत सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

bhāvaśuddhyā na kurute śrāddhaṃ sāṃvatsarādikam / svayameva na kurvīta sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

Wenn man in reiner Gesinnung das jährliche Śrāddha und verwandte Riten nicht vollzieht oder sie nicht selbst übernimmt—dann heißt es, entstehe dieses Leiden für den Verstorbenen im Zustand eines Preta.

Word by Word

• भावशुद्ध्या: with purity of intention
• भावशुद्ध्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भावस्य शुद्धिः)

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

• कुरुते: does; performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सांवत्सरादिकम्: annual and related (rites)
• सांवत्सरादिकम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सांवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सांवत्सरं च तत् आदिः च—‘annual etc.’) विशेषणम् (श्राद्धम्)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdesha (Agent emphasis/कर्तृनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक-अव्यय (reflexive adverb: oneself)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

• कुर्वीत: should do; would perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सा: that
• सा: Visheshya-nirdesha (Correlative/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• प्रेतसम्भवा: arising from a preta
• प्रेतसम्भवा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पीडा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Sāṃvatsarika (annual) and related śrāddha occasions

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Annual śrāddha and related rites, done with bhāva-śuddhi and personal responsibility, prevent preta-condition and relieve the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Kartavya-karma (obligatory action) purifies and sustains cosmic order; intention (bhāva) shapes efficacy.

Application: Maintain yearly śrāddha schedule; ensure sincerity, cleanliness, and proper procedure; if unable, arrange qualified performance without evasion of responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha-vidhi, ekoddiṣṭa/sapīṇḍīkaraṇa discussions in Pretakalpa-related chapters; Garuda Purana: statements on bhāva (intention) in ritual efficacy

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of annual śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that neglecting the sāṃvatsarika (annual) śrāddha and related rites leads to suffering connected with the preta-condition of the departed, implying these rituals are meant to support the soul’s post-death transition.

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

It highlights that the departed may remain in or be affected by a preta-state, and that proper śrāddha observance is presented as a dharmic aid that reduces such post-death affliction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sincerity (bhāva-śuddhi) and consistency in remembrance/ancestral duties—perform annual śrāddha (or equivalent family rites per tradition) as an act of responsibility, gratitude, and dharma.