Shloka 17

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

स्नायुबद्धास्थिचरणं धावमानमितस्ततः / अन्यैश्च बहुभिः प्रेतैः समन्तात्परिवारितम्

Transliteration

snāyubaddhāsthicaraṇaṃ dhāvamānamitastataḥ / anyaiśca bahubhiḥ pretaiḥ samantātparivāritam

Translation

സ്നായുക്കളാൽ ബന്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ട അസ്ഥിമയ പാദങ്ങളോടെ ആ പ്രേതൻ ഇങ്ങോട്ടും അങ്ങോട്ടും ഓടുന്നു; അനേകം മറ്റു പ്രേതന്മാർ അവനെ ചുറ്റുമെല്ലാം വളഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• स्नायुबद्धास्थिचरणम्: one whose bony feet are bound with sinews
• स्नायुबद्धास्थिचरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त, √बन्ध् धातु) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्नायुभिः बद्धम् अस्थिचरणं यस्य तत्)

• धावमानम्: running
• धावमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √धाव् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• इतस्: from here
• इतस्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘from here/this side’)

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘from there/that side’)

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रेतैः: by ghosts/spirits
• प्रेतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘on all sides’)

• परिवारितम्: surrounded
• परिवारितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + √वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta embodiment as a karmic consequence marked by instability, hunger/restlessness, and loss of human wholeness.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment is transient and conditioned (upādhi); suffering follows avidyā-driven action until purification/merit intervenes.

Application: Cultivate ethical conduct and timely rites/charity; remember impermanence to reduce attachment and harmful action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: forest/wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta-yoni and wandering spirits (general parallel passages); Garuda Purana, Shraddha-kalpa: rites that relieve preta-state (general linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of the preta state in Garuda Purana?

This verse portrays the preta as restless and distressed, indicating an intermediate condition shaped by karma where the departed wanders among other pretas until proper rites and destined transition occur.

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

It depicts a post-death wandering marked by agitation and fear—running “here and there”—and association with other pretas, emphasizing the unsettled nature of the journey before reaching a stable post-mortem destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages ethical living (to reduce karmic distress) and careful observance of death-related duties such as śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna, undertaken with sincerity to support the departed and maintain dharmic continuity.