Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

दृष्टगृत्युवशाद्वापि अदग्धवपुषस्तथा / प्रेतत्वं जायते तार्क्ष्य पीड्यन्ते येन जन्तवः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭagṛtyuvaśādvāpi adagdhavapuṣastathā / pretatvaṃ jāyate tārkṣya pīḍyante yena jantavaḥ

Translation

O Tārkṣya (Garuda), whether through the overpowering influence of a harmful spirit or black rite, or because the body remains uncremated, the preta-state arises—by which living beings are afflicted and tormented.

Word by Word

• दृष्टगृत्युवशात्: from being under the sway of a (seen) gṛtyu/evil spirit
• दृष्टगृत्युवशात्: Apadana (Cause/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्ट + गृत्यु + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (दृष्टस्य गृत्योः वशः = being under the influence of a seen gṛtyu/evil spirit); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• अदग्धवपुषः: of one whose body is unburnt
• अदग्धवपुषः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + दग्ध + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अदग्धं वपुः यस्य = having an unburnt body); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• प्रेतत्वम्: state of being a preta
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/तद्धित (त्व-प्रत्यय forming abstract state: pretahood); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• जायते: arises/occurs
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक; संबोधन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular)

• पीड्यन्ते: are tormented
• पीड्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• जन्तवः: creatures, beings
• जन्तवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately post-death; before/at cremation completion

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pretatva can arise from external malevolent influence (dṛṣṭa/abhicāra-like) or from incomplete funerary completion (uncremated body), resulting in torment to beings.

Vedantic Theme: Interplay of adṛṣṭa (unseen forces) and saṃskāra-vidhi; unresolved liminality binds the jīva and disturbs the social field.

Application: Ensure timely cremation/antyeṣṭi; protect vulnerable periods with śānti and ethical vigilance; support afflicted households with remedial rites and disciplined conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground / liminal threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: pretatva causes and remedies (general); continuation from 2.20.42; Garuda Purana: descriptions of preta-tormenting the living (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tarkshya)
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of cremation (antyeṣṭi) in Garuda Purana?

This verse links an uncremated body (adagdhavapuṣ) with the arising of pretatva, implying that proper last rites help prevent the restless preta-condition.

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

It indicates that certain obstructive conditions—such as harmful influences (gṛtyu/abhicāra) or incomplete funeral rites—can lead to a preta-state, marked by distress and the capacity to trouble the living, rather than a smooth onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform timely, proper funeral rites and maintain protective, dharmic conduct to reduce fear and confusion around death and to support peaceful transition for the departed.