Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

पुष्पं यत्र न दृश्येन फलं तथा / विरहो भार्यया यत्र सा पीडा प्रेतसग्भवा

Transliteration

puṣpaṃ yatra na dṛśyena phalaṃ tathā / viraho bhāryayā yatra sā pīḍā pretasagbhavā

Translation

In that realm, flowers are not seen, yet fruits appear; and there, separation from one’s wife becomes a torment—such is the pain said to arise for the preta (departed spirit).

Word by Word

• पुष्पम्: flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (प्रयोगे ‘पुष्पं न दृश्यते’ इति कर्मवत्)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• दृश्येत: would be seen; appears
• दृश्येत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive). (पाठे ‘दृश्येन’ इति सम्भाव्य-लिप्यन्तर/पाठभेदः; अपेक्षितं ‘दृश्येत’/‘दृश्यते’)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (likewise)

• विरहः: separation
• विरहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भार्यया: with/from the wife
• भार्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• सा: that
• सा: Visheshya-nirdesha (Correlative/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• प्रेतसम्भवा: arising from a preta
• प्रेतसम्भवा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पीडा). (पाठे ‘प्रेतसग्भवा’ इति लिप्यन्तर-दोषः; अपेक्षितं ‘प्रेतसम्भवा’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-affliction expresses itself through inversions of natural and social order—sterile signs in nature and painful relational separation.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic disorder (adharma) reflected in prakṛti and relationships; subtle causality shaping lived experience.

Application: Address neglected rites and ethical disharmony; restore dharma through śrāddha/śānti, charity, and reconciliation efforts where possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: landscape/region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: omens of preta-doṣa affecting fertility/produce and household harmony; Garuda Purana: preta-duḥkha described as viraha and longing tied to attachments

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that the preta experiences a distinct post-death condition where familiar worldly expectations are inverted and emotional attachments (like to one’s spouse) can become intense suffering.

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

It implies an intermediate, painful phase where the departed remains affected by unresolved attachments and undergoes experiences that are not purely physical, indicating a subtle-body-based suffering before onward transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate non-attachment and dharmic living, and perform appropriate śrāddha/ritual duties for the departed to support peace and lessen post-death distress described for the preta.