Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

पितृवाक्यं न कुरुते स्वपत्नीं च न सेवते / सदा क्रूरमतिर्व्यग्रः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

pitṛvākyaṃ na kurute svapatnīṃ ca na sevate / sadā krūramatirvyagraḥ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

Wer die Worte seines Vaters nicht beachtet und seine eigene Frau weder ehrt noch umsorgt—stets von grausamer Gesinnung und ruhelos—erleidet ein Leiden, das aus dem Preta-Zustand (Dasein des ruhelosen Totengeistes) entsteht.

Word by Word

• पितृवाक्यम्: father’s instruction/word
• पितृवाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पितुः वाक्यम् = father’s word); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• कुरुते: does, follows
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• स्वपत्नीम्: his own wife
• स्वपत्नीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (स्वा पत्नी = one’s own wife); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• सेवते: serves, attends to
• सेवते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• क्रूरमतिः: one of cruel mind
• क्रूरमतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (क्रूरा मतिः = cruel-minded); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यग्रः: agitated, restless
• व्यग्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• प्रेतसम्भवा: preta-born
• प्रेतसम्भवा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disrespect to father (pitṛ-vākya) and neglect of one’s wife violate gṛhastha obligations; persistent cruelty and agitation are framed as preta-born suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; tamasic agitation (vyagra) obstructs sattva and right relationship.

Application: Practice filial respect, listen to elders, uphold spousal responsibility and care; cultivate steadiness and compassion to counter cruelty and agitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: gṛhastha duties and śrāddha importance (general); preta-lakṣaṇa context in 2.20.39–43

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of obedience to the father’s instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats disregard of a father’s rightful counsel as adharma that ripens into post-death suffering, linking familial duty directly with karmic consequences in the preta-state.

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

It indicates that certain unethical patterns—cruelty, agitation, and neglect of core duties—can manifest as preta-janita pīḍā, i.e., afflictions experienced in the intermediate post-death condition rather than peace and onward progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate respectful responsiveness to parents/elders, fulfill marital responsibilities with care, and reduce cruelty and chronic agitation—these are presented as protective dharmic habits that prevent heavy karmic fallout.