Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

प्रेत उवाच / शृणु राजेन्द्र संक्षेपाद्विधिं नारायणात्मकम् / सच्छास्त्रश्रवणं विष्णोः पूजा सज्जनसंगतिः

Transliteration

preta uvāca / śṛṇu rājendra saṃkṣepādvidhiṃ nārāyaṇātmakam / sacchāstraśravaṇaṃ viṣṇoḥ pūjā sajjanasaṃgatiḥ

Translation

The Preta said: O best of kings, hear in brief the discipline whose very nature is Nārāyaṇa—listening to the true Śāstras, worship of Viṣṇu, and the company of the virtuous.

Word by Word

• प्रेतः: the preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संक्षेपात्: briefly, in summary
• संक्षेपात्: Adhikarana/Hetu (Circumstantial/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे—‘संक्षेपेण’ (briefly)

• विधिम्: the procedure, rule
• विधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नारायणात्मकम्: of the nature of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणात्मकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणं ‘विधिम्’ प्रति

• सत्: good, true
• सत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् पूर्वपद-विशेषणम्; ‘शास्त्र’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (good/true)

• शास्त्रश्रवणम्: hearing of scripture
• शास्त्रश्रवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सज्जनसंगतिः: association with good people
• सज्जनसंगतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सज्जन + संगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Preta (departed spirit)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa-dharma as a triad: śāstra-śravaṇa, Viṣṇu-pūjā, and satsaṅga—practices that purify and reorient the jīva.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi and bhagavad-āśraya: purification of mind through devotion and right hearing, preparing for higher knowledge and liberation.

Application: Daily or periodic listening to authentic scripture, regular Viṣṇu worship, and intentional association with virtuous people (community, teachers, sādhus).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: recurring emphasis on śravaṇa–kīrtana–pūjā as remedies for preta/duḥkha states; Garuda Purana, Śrāddha-kalpa sections: satsaṅga and śāstra as supports for right ritual performance

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Nārāyaṇa-centric discipline (nārāyaṇātmaka vidhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames core spiritual practice as centered on Nārāyaṇa: listening to authentic scripture, worship of Viṣṇu, and virtuous company—presented as a concise, essential path for upliftment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s condition after death in the Garuda Purana?

Spoken by a preta, it highlights remedies that support the departed condition: devotional worship, scriptural hearing, and satsanga are portrayed as purifying supports amid post-death vulnerability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly hear/read reliable sacred texts, maintain a steady Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa worship practice, and cultivate the company of ethically grounded people to strengthen dharma and inner clarity.