Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 18

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा विकृतं घोरं विस्मितो बभ्रुवाहनः / प्रेतो ऽपि दृष्ट्वा तां घोरामटवीमागतं नृपम्

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vikṛtaṃ ghoraṃ vismito babhruvāhanaḥ / preto 'pi dṛṣṭvā tāṃ ghorāmaṭavīmāgataṃ nṛpam

Translation

Seeing him—misshapen and terrifying—Babhruvāhana was astonished. And even the preta, on seeing that dreadful forest and the king who had come into it, was struck with fear and wonder.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that one
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (gerund/absolutive); अव्यय-प्रयोगः

• विकृतम्: deformed
• विकृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तम्)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तम्)

• विस्मितः: astonished
• विस्मितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √स्मि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बभ्रुवाहनः)

• बभ्रुवाहनः: Babhruvāhana (proper name)
• बभ्रुवाहनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बभ्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बभ्रुः वाहनं यस्य)

• प्रेतः: the ghost/spirit
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• ताम्: that (forest)
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• घोराम्: terrible
• घोराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अटवीम्)

• अटवीम्: forest
• अटवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अटवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• आगतम्: arrived/come
• आगतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नृपम्)

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta/Narrator (within the Purana’s narrative frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perception of terrifying forms prompts inquiry into causes (tattva-jijñāsā); appearances conceal deeper karmic histories.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguish appearance (nāma-rūpa) from underlying causality; cultivate discernment rather than mere reaction.

Application: When confronted with frightening or unfamiliar conditions, respond with inquiry and steadiness; seek causes and remedies rather than panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: forest/wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dialogues where a living interlocutor questions preta conditions (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Babhruvāhana
• Nṛpa (King)

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘preta’ state in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the preta as a conscious post-death condition marked by fear and disorientation; the Garuda Purana uses such scenes to stress the need for dharma and proper post-death rites that stabilize the departed.

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

By depicting a dreadful forest and a preta reacting to it, the verse points to the soul’s vulnerable journey through frightening, karma-shaped experiences before reaching a more settled state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically to reduce fear-born karmic consequences, and support traditional śrāddha/pinda-dāna practices with sincerity to help the departed transition with greater peace.