Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 56

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

एवं न कुरुते नारी धर्मोढा पतिसंगमम् / जन्मजन्मनि दुः खार्तादुः शीलाप्रियवादिनी

Transliteration

evaṃ na kurute nārī dharmoḍhā patisaṃgamam / janmajanmani duḥ khārtāduḥ śīlāpriyavādinī

Translation

Perempuan yang berselubung ‘dharma’ namun tidak bersatu dengan suaminya, akan menderita duka dari kelahiran ke kelahiran—berbudi laku buruk, tetapi manis tutur katanya.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (manner adverb)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः (negation)

• कुरुते: does
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मोढा: married according to dharma
• धर्मोढा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊढ (कृदन्त; √वह्/ऊह्? ‘ऊढ’ = carried/borne)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—धर्मेण ऊढा/धर्मम् ऊढा इति (अर्थतः ‘धर्मेण विवाहित/धर्मतः गृहीता’) तत्पुरुषसमासः; ऊढा = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषण

• पतिसंगमम्: union with (her) husband
• पतिसंगमम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—पतेः संगमः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• जन्मजन्मनि: in birth after birth
• जन्मजन्मनि: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; सप्तमी-बहुवचनार्थे अव्ययवत्—‘प्रत्येकं जन्मनि’ (in every birth)

• दुःखार्ता: afflicted by sorrow
• दुःखार्ता: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—दुःखेन आर्ता इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः

• दुःशीलाप्रियवादिनी: of bad conduct yet sweet-speaking
• दुःशीलाप्रियवादिनी: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शील (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाससमूहः—(दुःशील) कर्मधारयः ‘दुष्टं शीलं यस्याः’; (प्रियवादिनी) कर्मधारयः ‘प्रियं वदति इति’; समस्तपदं स्त्रीवाचकम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of one’s relational dharma produces recurring sorrow and degraded character across births.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic saṃskāras persist; outward speech can mask inner adharma, yet karma bears fruit.

Application: Align inner intention and outward conduct; address relational duties conscientiously and seek ethical counsel when conflicts arise.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: moral/psychological landscape of saṃsāra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa karmic retribution patterns: repeated births shaped by specific adharma

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of marital dharma (pati-saṃgama) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames marital companionship as a dharmic responsibility; neglecting it is presented as generating adverse karmic impressions that echo across rebirths.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences across births?

By stating “janmajanmani,” it links a specific ethical lapse to repeated suffering and character distortion over many lifetimes, emphasizing continuity of karma beyond one life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat close relationships as ethical commitments: practice honesty, mutual responsibility, and integrity—avoiding merely outward sweetness that hides inner neglect or harm.