Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

कृतादौ द्वापरान्ते च न प्रेतो नैव पीडनम् / बहूनामेकजातानामेकः सौख्यं समश्नुते

Transliteration

kṛtādau dvāparānte ca na preto naiva pīḍanam / bahūnāmekajātānāmekaḥ saukhyaṃ samaśnute

Translation

In the beginning of the Kṛta (Satya) age and at the end of the Dvāpara age, there is no state of being a preta, nor any torment. Among many who are born in the same class of beings, one alone attains and enjoys happiness.

Word by Word

• कृतादौ: at the beginning of Kṛta (yuga)
• कृतादौ: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (कृते आदौ)

• द्वापरान्ते: at the end of Dvāpara
• द्वापरान्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (द्वापरस्य अन्ते)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः

• प्रेतः: a preta
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः

• एव: indeed / even
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphasis)

• पीडनम्: affliction/torment
• पीडनम्: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-नाम (torment/affliction)

• बहूनाम्: of many
• बहूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-लिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम्; 'of many'

• एकजातानाम्: of those born together / of the same kind
• एकजातानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + जात (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-लिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (एकस्मिन् जाते/एकजातीय)

• एकः: one (person)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सौख्यम्: happiness
• सौख्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + य (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त

• समश्नुते: enjoys / attains
• समश्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; उपसर्गः सम् (सम्+अश्नुते)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic time (yuga) modulates prevalence of preta-bhava and suffering; even among similar births, happiness is rare—suggesting subtle karmic differentiation.

Vedantic Theme: Interplay of kala (time) and karma; rarity of sukha indicates samsaric unpredictability and the need for higher pursuit beyond worldly happiness.

Application: Do not rely on ‘era’ or external conditions alone; cultivate merit and inner steadiness, recognizing happiness is uncommon and should be used to pursue dharma and liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: yuga-based dharma decline frameworks; discussions of how Kali increases suffering and irregular post-death states

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Yugas (Krita, Dvapara)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that the preta condition and its torments are not uniform across time; in certain Yuga junctions (Kṛta’s beginning and Dvāpara’s end) the text states there is no preta-hood or torment, framing preta-suffering as context-dependent rather than absolute.

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

It indicates that post-death experience varies: sometimes the intermediate preta phase with affliction does not occur, and even among similar births, only one may obtain happiness—implying karmic and cosmic-period (Yuga) influences on the soul’s immediate post-mortem trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat after-death outcomes as karma-sensitive: prioritize dharma, ethical conduct, and prescribed rites for the departed (śrāddha/pinda-related duties where applicable), while remembering that results are shaped by both personal karma and broader cosmic conditions.