Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तेन मम जातं नृपोत्तम / एकादशं त्रिपक्षञ्च षाण्मासिकमथाब्दिकम्

Transliteration

pretatvaṃ susthiraṃ tena mama jātaṃ nṛpottama / ekādaśaṃ tripakṣañca ṣāṇmāsikamathābdikam

Translation

Oleh sebab itu, wahai raja yang utama, keadaan diriku sebagai preta menjadi teguh—hingga upacara hari kesebelas, upacara tiga pakṣa (tiga fortnight), upacara enam bulan, dan kemudian upacara tahunan.

Word by Word

• प्रेतत्वम्: the state of being a preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-त्वान्त (state of being a preta)

• सुस्थिरम्: very stable/lasting
• सुस्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘प्रेतत्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (very firm/lasting)

• तेन: therefore/by that (reason)
• तेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (Instrumental singular: ‘therefore/by that’)

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Genitive singular)

• जातम्: has become
• जातम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः, नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘भवति’ अर्थे (has become)

• नृपोत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः नृपः) (Vocative singular)

• एकादशम्: the eleventh-day (rite)
• एकादशम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; श्राद्ध-विशेषस्य नाम (the eleventh-day rite)

• त्रिपक्षम्: the three-fortnights (rite)
• त्रिपक्षम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः पक्षाः) (three-fortnights rite)

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

• षाण्मासिकम्: the six-month (rite)
• षाण्मासिकम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षाण्मासिक (प्रातिपदिक) < षण् + मास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (षण्माससम्बन्धि) (six-monthly rite)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्ययम् (then/thereafter)

• आब्दिकम्: the annual (rite)
• आब्दिकम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक) < अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; वार्षिक-श्राद्ध (annual rite)

Speaker

A preta (departed soul) narrating to a king (nṛpottama) within the Preta Kanda discourse

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ekādaśāha (11th day), tripakṣa (three fortnights), ṣaṇmāsika (six-month), ābdika (annual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without timely rites, the departed can remain bound in preta-bhāva; ritual acts function as karmic supports enabling transition.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity after death; karma and saṃskāra operate beyond gross death, and dharmic rites affect the preta’s trajectory.

Application: Ensure the sequence of post-death rites is performed on schedule (11th day, subsequent periodic rites), especially when the deceased lacks close kin.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: liminal realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa: descriptions of preta’s dependence on śrāddha and the time-bound sequence of ekādaśāha, māsika, ṣaṇmāsika, ābdika

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• King (Nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of the eleventh-day (ekādaśāha) rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the eleventh-day observance as a key milestone in the post-death ritual sequence that directly relates to the preta’s condition, marking a crucial stage before later periodic rites.

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

It indicates that the departed can remain in a “preta” condition for a defined ritual period, and that specific śrāddha milestones (11th day, three fortnights, six months, annual rite) frame the transition and stabilization of the post-mortem state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows Hindu ancestral rites, this verse supports performing the scheduled śrāddha milestones punctually (11th-day and subsequent periodic rites) as a dharmic duty toward the departed.