Shloka 67

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

भिन्ने देहे दुरापन्नाः प्रेतभूता यमक्षये स्वकर्माण्यनुशोचन्तो यातनास्थानमागताः //

Transliteration

bhinne dehe durāpannāḥ pretabhūtā yamakṣaye svakarmāṇyanuśocanto yātanāsthānamāgatāḥ //

Translation

When the body is broken (by death), those who have fallen into a wretched state become pretas in Yama’s domain; grieving over their own deeds, they arrive at the place of torment.

Word by Word

• bhinné: when broken/severed

• dehe: in the body (i.e., when the body is destroyed)

• durāpannāḥ: having reached a miserable condition, fallen into adversity

• preta-bhūtāḥ: having become pretas (departed spirits)

• yama-kṣaye: in Yama’s abode/realm

• sva-karmāṇi: their own actions (deeds)

• anuśocantaḥ: lamenting, grieving repeatedly

• yātanā-sthānam: the place of torture/torment

• āgatāḥ: having come, having arrived

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s teaching on post-death consequences (within the Matsya–Manu dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Preta

Tags

• Preta
• Yama
• Karma
• Naraka
• Afterlife

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about cosmic pralaya; it describes an individual post-death transition—after the body perishes, the jīva may enter a preta condition and face karmic consequences in Yama’s realm.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It underscores karmic accountability: rulers and householders must uphold dharma—truthfulness, non-injury, charity, and restraint—because one’s own actions become the cause of grief and suffering after death in Yama’s domain.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is ethical—perform dharmic rites and right conduct to avoid becoming a preta and reaching yātanā-sthāna.