Shloka 10

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

तेन पापेन नरकान्मुक्ताः प्रेतत्वभागिनः / न तेषां कारयेद्दाहं सूतकं नोदकक्रियाम्

Transliteration

tena pāpena narakānmuktāḥ pretatvabhāginaḥ / na teṣāṃ kārayeddāhaṃ sūtakaṃ nodakakriyām

Translation

Disebabkan dosa itu, mereka terlepas dari neraka, namun mereka menjadi Preta. Bagi orang-orang sedemikian, seseorang tidak seharusnya mengatur pembakaran mayat, mematuhi tempoh ketidaksucian, atau melakukan persembahan air.

Word by Word

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पापेन: by sin
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• मुक्ताः: freed
• मुक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• प्रेतत्व-भागिनः: sharers of the state of a preta
• प्रेतत्व-भागिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व + भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः: प्रेतत्वस्य भागी = प्रेतत्व-भागिन्

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

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• कारयेत्: should cause (to be done)
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (प्रयोजक)
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• दाहम्: cremation
• दाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सूतकम्: impurity period (mourning impurity)
• सूतकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• उदक-क्रियाम्: water-rite (libation ritual)
• उदक-क्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: उदकस्य क्रिया = उदक-क्रिया

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even if freed from specific hells, certain sins yield preta-state; therefore ordinary funerary rites may be prohibited and replaced by special measures.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s layered fruition: naraka-release does not equal liberation; intermediate states persist until appropriate expiation/ritual remedy.

Application: Consult tradition/ācārya for apamṛtyu/durmaraṇa cases; do not mechanically apply standard rites; perform prescribed alternatives.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.40.11 (narayana-bali as the prescribed alternative); Garuda Purana discussions on preta-śānti and udaka-kriyā rules (nearby sections)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Naraka

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that even if one is freed from specific hells (naraka), karmic residue can still result in pretatva—an unsettled post-death condition—showing that consequences are graded and not limited to hell-punishments alone.

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

It distinguishes outcomes: release from naraka does not automatically imply auspicious passage; one may still enter a preta condition, and the text marks this by stating that standard rites like cremation, sūtaka observance, and udaka-kriyā are not to be performed for such cases.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It advises careful adherence to scriptural/lineage guidance in death rites: not every situation is treated identically, and one should consult qualified tradition (śāstra and ācāra) before performing or omitting antyeṣṭi-related rituals.