Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

हीनजात्या च सम्बन्धो हीनकर्म करोति यः / अधर्मे रमते नित्यं सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

hīnajātyā ca sambandho hīnakarma karoti yaḥ / adharme ramate nityaṃ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

One who associates with the base-born, performs degrading actions, and delights in unrighteousness—such suffering arises from pretas.

Word by Word

• हीन: low/inferior
• हीन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (qualifier)

• जात्या: with a low caste/status
• जात्या: Sahakarana/Hetu (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः: हीन-जात्या (कर्मधारय: हीना जातिः)

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

• सम्बन्धः: association/relationship
• सम्बन्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• हीनकर्म: base/low act
• हीनकर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हीन + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः: हीन-कर्म (कर्मधारय: हीनं कर्म)

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Relative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम)

• अधर्मे: in unrighteousness
• अधर्मे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• रमते: delights
• रमते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• 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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Persistent delight in adharma and degrading conduct/associations leads to preta-pida.

Vedantic Theme: Samskara formation through sangati (company) shaping karma; tamasic tendencies binding the jiva to lower states.

Application: Choose uplifting company (satsanga), avoid habitual unethical environments, and replace degrading actions with dharmic disciplines and service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: moral causation lists for preta-pida; emphasis on sangati and conduct in dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of 'preta-sambhavā pīḍā' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links persistent adharma and degrading conduct—often reinforced by harmful company—to suffering described as preta-born affliction, emphasizing moral causality and unseen afterlife-related disturbances.

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

By naming suffering as 'preta-sambhavā,' it implies that unresolved impurity and sinful tendencies can attract preta-like conditions or influences, obstructing peace and a wholesome post-death transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose uplifting company, avoid actions that degrade character, and cultivate dharma consistently—because repeated indulgence in adharma is portrayed as inviting deep psychological and spiritual distress.