Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

नित्यकर्मविनिंमुक्तो जपहोमविवर्जितः / परद्रव्याणां च हर्ता सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

nityakarmaviniṃmukto japahomavivarjitaḥ / paradravyāṇāṃ ca hartā sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

One who abandons daily obligatory duties, is devoid of japa and homa, and steals the wealth of others suffers the affliction of a preta.

Word by Word

• नित्य: daily/regular
• नित्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; समासाङ्ग (qualifier)

• कर्म: duty/rite
• कर्म: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual in compound), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• विनिर्मुक्तः: freed from (i.e., neglecting) daily duties
• विनिर्मुक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+निर्+मुच् (धातु) → विनिर्मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि/भावे; समासः: नित्य-कर्म-विनिर्मुक्तः (तत्पुरुष: नित्यकर्मणः विनिर्मुक्तः)

• जप: of recitation
• जप: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• होम: of oblation (homa)
• होम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• विवर्जितः: devoid of japa and homa
• विवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+वर्ज् (धातु) → विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); समासः: जप-होम-विवर्जितः (तत्पुरुष: जपहोमयोः विवर्जितः)

• पर: another’s
• पर: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (qualifier)

• द्रव्याणाम्: of others’ property
• द्रव्याणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः: पर-द्रव्याणाम् (कर्मधारय: परस्य द्रव्याणि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• हर्ता: stealer
• हर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृ (धातु) → हर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि-तृच् (agent noun)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (सर्वनाम)

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

• प्रेतसम्भवा: arising from a preta
• प्रेतसम्भवा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः: प्रेत-सम्भवा (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of obligatory duties and sacrificial disciplines, coupled with theft, generates preta-affliction.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; adharma intensifies bondage through papa and restlessness after death.

Application: Maintain nitya-karmas appropriate to one’s station; keep a minimal daily japa/homa discipline; avoid appropriation of others’ wealth; practice restitution and charity to counter theft-born papa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: causes and signs of preta-pida; role of rites in preventing preta-state disturbances; Garuda Purana: shraddha/antyeshti sections emphasizing ritual continuity and its effects on the departed

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of daily duties (nitya-karma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that neglecting nitya-karma—along with abandoning japa and homa—creates karmic conditions that lead to suffering in the preta state after death.

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

It links specific unethical and irreligious actions (ritual neglect and theft) to preta-born affliction, indicating that post-death experience is shaped by one’s karma and dharmic conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent daily spiritual discipline (prayer/mantra and offerings according to one’s tradition) and avoid taking what is not given—ethical restraint and regular practice are presented as protections against harsh karmic outcomes.