Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

वक्ष्यामि पीडास्ता राजन्या वै प्रेतकृता भुवि / ऋतुः स्यादफलः स्त्रीणां यदा वंशो न वर्धते

Transliteration

vakṣyāmi pīḍāstā rājanyā vai pretakṛtā bhuvi / ṛtuḥ syādaphalaḥ strīṇāṃ yadā vaṃśo na vardhate

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ, ഭൂമിയിൽ പ്രേതങ്ങൾ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്ന ആ പീഡകൾ ഞാൻ വിവരിക്കും. വംശം വർധിക്കാതിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ഋതു (ഗർഭധാരണകാലം) ഫലരഹിതമാകും.

Word by Word

• वक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पीडाः: afflictions
• पीडाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• ताः: those
• ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणम् (पीडाः इत्यस्य)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• याः: which
• याः: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• प्रेत-कृताः: caused by a preta
• प्रेत-कृताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतेन कृताः)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• ऋतुः: menstrual season/period
• ऋतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be/becomes
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (संभावना/आज्ञा), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अफलः: fruitless
• अफलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ऋतुः)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक (relative temporal adverb)

• वंशः: lineage
• वंशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• वर्धते: grows/increases
• वर्धते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra, with the vocative 'O King')

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-affliction manifests as obstacles to progeny and continuity; unseen karmic/ritual deficits show as worldly impediments.

Vedantic Theme: Adṛṣṭa karma expressing through prārabdha-like obstacles in saṃsāra; necessity of remedial action within dharma.

Application: If repeated infertility/miscarriage patterns occur, combine compassionate medical care with culturally appropriate family rites and ethical living; avoid blaming individuals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/community

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.9.56: inference by signs; Garuda Purana 2.9.58: further afflictions (early death, livelihood loss, disrespect)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-kṛta pīḍā (spirit-caused affliction) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames certain worldly sufferings as arising from preta influence, introducing a diagnostic lens used in the Preta Kanda to motivate proper rites and dharmic conduct.

How does this verse connect preta influence with family lineage and fertility?

It states that when the lineage does not grow, a sign can be that women’s ṛtu (fertile cycle) becomes ‘aphala’ (unfruitful), presented here as one expression of preta-kṛta disturbance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dharmic living and, where one follows tradition, ensure respectful ancestral observances and family rites; also treat fertility concerns responsibly with ethical action and appropriate guidance.