Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 26

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

मृतकस्य गुणा ग्राह्या यमगाथां समुद्गिरेत् / शुभाशुभे च ध्यातव्ये पूर्वकर्मोपसञ्चिते

Transliteration

mṛtakasya guṇā grāhyā yamagāthāṃ samudgiret / śubhāśubhe ca dhyātavye pūrvakarmopasañcite

Translation

Ingatlah dan terimalah kebajikan orang yang wafat, serta lantunkanlah nyanyian suci tentang Yama. Renungkan pula buah baik dan buruk yang terkumpul dari karma lampau.

Word by Word

• मृतकस्य: of the deceased
• मृतकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• गुणाः: qualities/virtues
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ग्राह्याः: should be accepted/mentioned
• ग्राह्याः: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/fit to be taken); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि/भावे

• यमगाथाम्: a Yama-verse/chant about Yama
• यमगाथाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य गाथा)

• समुद्गिरेत्: should recite/utter aloud
• समुद्गिरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + गिर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• शुभाशुभे: in (matters of) good and bad
• शुभाशुभे: Adhikarana (Topic/Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ + अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (शुभं च अशुभं च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ध्यातव्ये: to be contemplated
• ध्यातव्ये: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यातव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (शुभाशुभयोः)

• पूर्वकर्मोपसञ्चिते: accumulated from past deeds
• पूर्वकर्मोपसञ्चिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + कर्म + उपसञ्चित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पूर्वकर्मणा उपसञ्चिते = accumulated by prior actions)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha recitation/eulogy segment

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala contemplation: auspicious and inauspicious results arise from accumulated past actions; remembrance and recitation orient the mind toward dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as causal law within saṃsāra; viveka (discernment) through reflection on śubha-aśubha.

Application: In mourning rites, speak truthfully of the departed’s virtues (guṇa-grahaṇa), recite Yama-related hymns, and contemplate one’s own karmic trajectory to reform conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual recitation space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama’s role, karmic adjudication, and prescribed recitations during śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sequences

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting a Yama-gāthā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Yama-gāthā recitation as a ritual-spiritual reminder of dharma and karmic accountability at death, aligning the mind toward the afterlife journey governed by Yama’s order.

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

It emphasizes that the soul’s post-death experience is shaped by pūrvakarma—accumulated past deeds—so one should reflect on both merit and demerit while performing death-related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Remember the departed’s virtues, avoid slander in mourning, and use the occasion to reflect on your own actions—strengthening ethical living through awareness of karmic consequences.