Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 38

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

अस्थिरेण शरीरेण कर्तव्यञ्चौर्ध्वदोहिकम् / राजोवाच / कृशरूपः करालाक्षस्त्वं प्रेत इव लक्ष्यसे

Transliteration

asthireṇa śarīreṇa kartavyañcaurdhvadohikam / rājovāca / kṛśarūpaḥ karālākṣastvaṃ preta iva lakṣyase

Translation

この無常の身をもって、亡き者のための後事の儀礼（死後の供養と作法）を正しく行うべきである。王は言った。「おまえは痩せ衰え、眼差しも恐ろしい。まことにプレータ（死者の霊）のように見える。」

Word by Word

• अस्थिरेण: unstable, impermanent
• अस्थिरेण: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग? (contextually with शरीरेण: नपुंसकलिङ्ग), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शरीरेण: with/by the body
• शरीरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (Conjunction)

• ऊर्ध्वदोहिकम्: beneficial for the higher world (afterlife-oriented)
• ऊर्ध्वदोहिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दोहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभाव: 'ऊर्ध्वं दोहयति/ऊर्ध्वे लोके हितम्' इत्यर्थे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• कृशरूपः: of emaciated form
• कृशरूपः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('कृशं रूपं यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• करालाक्षः: with dreadful eyes
• करालाक्षः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('कराले अक्षिणी यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, सर्वनाम (2nd person)

• प्रेतः: a departed spirit, ghost
• प्रेतः: Upamana/Predicate nominal
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमार्थक (Comparative particle)

• लक्ष्यसे: you appear/are seen
• लक्ष्यसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive: 'are seen/appear')

Speaker

Raja (the King)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-cremation ūrdhva-dehika period (early śrāddha sequence; commonly day 1–10/11 depending on tradition)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Because the body is unstable, one should perform post-death/ancestral observances (ūrdhva-dehika) properly; recognition of preta-state underscores ritual necessity.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of the body; dharmic rites as supportive means within saṃsāra; compassion toward the departed.

Application: Maintain preparedness for last rites and ancestral duties; support bereaved families; treat death-related rites with seriousness and care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: court/encounter scene

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta condition and the need for ūrdhva-dehika/śrāddha to aid the departed (broad Pretakalpa theme)

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of ūrdhvadohika (post-death rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that because the body is impermanent, one should not delay dharmic duties—especially rites connected with the departed—so the transition after death is supported through prescribed offerings and observances.

How does this verse describe the preta condition?

It characterizes a preta as appearing emaciated and fearsome-eyed, indicating a distressed post-death state that contrasts with a stable, well-supported transition aided by proper rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Remember bodily impermanence and prioritize timely dharma—care for elders, prepare ethically for death, and if following tradition, perform śrāddha/pinda-related duties without negligence.