Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज प्रेतत्वादुद्धरस्व माम् / वर्णानां चापि सर्वेषां राजा बन्धुरिहोच्यते

Transliteration

evaṃ jñātvā mahārāja pretatvāduddharasva mām / varṇānāṃ cāpi sarveṣāṃ rājā bandhurihocyate

Translation

മഹാരാജാവേ, ഇതറിഞ്ഞ് എന്നെ പ്രേതാവസ്ഥയിൽ നിന്ന് ഉയർത്തി രക്ഷിക്കണമേ. ഈ ലോകത്ത് എല്ലാ വർണങ്ങൾക്കും രാജാവാണ് ബന്ധുവെന്ന് പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: "thus")

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having known)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधनपद (vocative address)

• प्रेतत्वात्: from (the state of) being a preta
• प्रेतत्वात्: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/अपादाने (from the state of being a preta)

• उद्धरस्व: rescue (me)
• उद्धरस्व: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; आदेश (rescue!)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• वर्णानाम्: of the classes (varṇas)
• वर्णानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (particle: also/even)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वर्णानाम्)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• बन्धुः: a kinsman/relative
• बन्धुः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (Locative adverb/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: is said/called)

Speaker

A suffering preta (departed spirit) addressing a king

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma: the king is a universal kinsman and protector, responsible for safeguarding subjects’ welfare including ritual order.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of cosmic/social order) through dharma; compassion as a sattvic expression of duty.

Application: Leaders/guardians should ensure vulnerable persons receive proper support for funerary obligations and protection from exploitation; uphold institutions that enable last rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: royal court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: discussions on preta-state causes and remedies; aurdhva-dehika and śrāddha as release mechanisms (nearby sections in Pretakalpa)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Raja
• Varnas

FAQs

What is the importance of rescuing a preta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the preta-condition as a distressing post-death state and frames “rescue” as a dharmic responsibility, implying that proper support and righteous governance help prevent or relieve such suffering.

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

It indicates an intermediate condition—preta-bhāva—where the departed may remain troubled and dependent on aid, suggesting that post-death well-being is connected to dharma and timely assistance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support ethical leadership and community responsibility, and when death occurs, follow respectful, tradition-aligned rites and compassionate care for families—treating such duties as part of dharma.