Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

नास्तिक्यं वृत्तिलोपश्च महालोभस्तथैव च / स्याद्धन्तकलहो नित्यं सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

nāstikyaṃ vṛttilopaśca mahālobhastathaiva ca / syāddhantakalaho nityaṃ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

From the state of becoming a preta arises this torment: disbelief in dharma, loss of right conduct, overwhelming greed, and constant quarrelling—gnashing contention, again and again.

Word by Word

• nāstikyam: atheism/denial (of dharma)
• nāstikyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāstikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vṛtti-lopaḥ: loss of livelihood/conduct
• vṛtti-lopaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + lopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vṛtteḥ lopaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• mahā-lobhaḥ: great greed
• mahā-lobhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + lobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān lobhaḥ)

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/so')

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• syāt: may be / would occur
• syāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• hanta-kalahaḥ: violent quarrel/strife
• hanta-kalahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanta (अव्यय/निपात) + kalaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निपात-पूर्वक समास/तत्पुरुष (hanta- as intensifier)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: 'always')

• sā: that
• sā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pīḍā: affliction
• pīḍā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• preta-sambhavā: arising from a preta
• preta-sambhavā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-sambhava pīḍā is marked by nāstikya, loss of right conduct, intense lobha, and perpetual quarrel—showing how adharma manifests as psychological and social pathology.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas/rajas dominance leading to avidyā and ethical collapse; bondage through desire and conflict.

Application: Cultivate śraddhā (trust in dharma), regulate desire, practice truthful and nonviolent speech; create routines that support sāttvika living and community harmony.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.20.19-23 (preta-doṣa symptom list)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of the preta-condition in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the preta-state is not merely a location but a karmic condition marked by inner afflictions—loss of dharmic orientation, greed, and constant conflict.

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

It implies that unresolved tendencies (nāstikya, lobha, and vṛtti-lopa) can manifest after death as ongoing mental and subtle suffering characteristic of the preta experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate faith in dharma, honest livelihood and discipline, restraint from greed, and non-contentious speech—these reduce the karmic causes associated with preta-like torment.