Shloka 68

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

यथा तारागणाः सर्वे च्छाद्यन्ते रविरश्मिभिः / एवं प्रच्छाद्यते सर्वं न प्रेतो भवति क्वचित्

Transliteration

yathā tārāgaṇāḥ sarve cchādyante raviraśmibhiḥ / evaṃ pracchādyate sarvaṃ na preto bhavati kvacit

Translation

Wie alle Scharen der Sterne von den Strahlen der Sonne überglänzt und verhüllt werden, so wird auch alles durch jene höhere Kraft und Verdienste verdeckt, und der Verstorbene wird zu keiner Zeit ein Preta.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/उपमेय-सम्बन्धे (comparative particle: “as/just as”)

• तारागणाः: groups of stars
• तारागणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ताराणां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of तारागणाः)

• च्छाद्यन्ते: are covered
• च्छाद्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: “are covered”)

• रविरश्मिभिः: by the sun’s rays
• रविरश्मिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi + raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रवेः रश्मयः)

• एवं: thus
• एवं: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner: “thus/in this way”)

• प्रच्छाद्यते: is covered
• प्रच्छाद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + छद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: “is covered/hidden”)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc); एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थानी (logical subject)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• प्रेतः: a departed spirit (preta)
• प्रेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: Desha/Kaala-adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (indefinite adverb: “anywhere/ever”)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Overwhelming punya (merit) can ‘cover’ adverse post-death states, preventing preta-bhava.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the relative power of sattvic merit to remove obscuration (āvaraṇa) and fear in saṃsāra.

Application: Accumulate sattvic merit through prescribed gifts/rites and devotion so the post-death transition is protected and non-preta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-lakṣaṇa and preta-bhāva nivṛtti through śrāddha/dāna (contextual); Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas where merit is compared to light dispelling darkness (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of the preta state in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that becoming a preta is not inevitable; when a stronger, purifying influence (dharma/merit supported by proper rites) prevails, the conditions that lead to preta-hood are ‘covered’ and the departed does not enter that restless state.

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

By using the sun-and-stars analogy, it teaches that higher spiritual force and rightful post-death support can dominate lesser obstructing factors, shaping the soul’s post-mortem condition away from preta-hood and toward a more orderly transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in dharma and, when a death occurs, follow sincere, tradition-aligned antyeṣṭi and śrāddha duties with faith and restraint—prioritizing ethical conduct and responsible remembrance over fear-based superstition.