Shloka 41

Entry into Yama’s Abode; Nature, Causes, and Signs of the Preta-State

Devanagari script

पितृवाक्यं न कुरुते स्वपत्नीं च न सेवते / सदा क्रूरमतिर्व्यग्रः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

pitṛvākyaṃ na kurute svapatnīṃ ca na sevate / sadā krūramatirvyagraḥ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

പിതാവിന്റെ വാക്ക് അനുസരിക്കാത്തവനും സ്വന്തം ഭാര്യയെ സേവിച്ച് ആദരിക്കാത്തവനും എപ്പോഴും ക്രൂരബുദ്ധിയോടെ അശാന്തനായി ഇരിക്കും; ആ പീഡ പ്രേതസംബവമാണ്.

Word by Word

• पितृवाक्यम्: father’s instruction/word
• पितृवाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पितुः वाक्यम् = father’s word); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• कुरुते: does, follows
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• स्वपत्नीम्: his own wife
• स्वपत्नीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (स्वा पत्नी = one’s own wife); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• सेवते: serves, attends to
• सेवते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• क्रूरमतिः: one of cruel mind
• क्रूरमतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (क्रूरा मतिः = cruel-minded); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यग्रः: agitated, restless
• व्यग्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पीडा: affliction
• पीडा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रेतसम्भवा: preta-born
• प्रेतसम्भवा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disrespect to father (pitṛ-vākya) and neglect of one’s wife violate gṛhastha obligations; persistent cruelty and agitation are framed as preta-born suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; tamasic agitation (vyagra) obstructs sattva and right relationship.

Application: Practice filial respect, listen to elders, uphold spousal responsibility and care; cultivate steadiness and compassion to counter cruelty and agitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: gṛhastha duties and śrāddha importance (general); preta-lakṣaṇa context in 2.20.39–43

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of obedience to the father’s instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats disregard of a father’s rightful counsel as adharma that ripens into post-death suffering, linking familial duty directly with karmic consequences in the preta-state.

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

It indicates that certain unethical patterns—cruelty, agitation, and neglect of core duties—can manifest as preta-janita pīḍā, i.e., afflictions experienced in the intermediate post-death condition rather than peace and onward progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate respectful responsiveness to parents/elders, fulfill marital responsibilities with care, and reduce cruelty and chronic agitation—these are presented as protective dharmic habits that prevent heavy karmic fallout.