Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 36

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

न चैवोपद्रवास्तस्य मोहजालो न चैव हि / मृत्युकाले न च भयं यमदूतसमुद्भवम्

Transliteration

na caivopadravāstasya mohajālo na caiva hi / mṛtyukāle na ca bhayaṃ yamadūtasamudbhavam

Translation

ତାହାର କୌଣସି ଉପଦ୍ରବ ନାହିଁ, ମୋହର ଜାଲ ମଧ୍ୟ ନାହିଁ। ମୃତ୍ୟୁକାଳେ ଯମଦୂତଜନିତ ଭୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାହାରେ ଉଦ୍ଭବ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• upadravāḥ: calamities/disturbances
• upadravāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upadrava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• mohajālaḥ: web of delusion
• mohajālaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohajāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: for/because
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• mṛtyukāle: at the time of death
• mṛtyukāle: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyukāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yamadūtasamudbhavam: arising from Yama's messengers
• yamadūtasamudbhavam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yamadūtasamudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Freedom from moha and fear at death through right spiritual orientation (dharma/bhakti implied).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi leading to abhayam; moha as avidyā-net.

Application: Cultivate steady remembrance of Hari, ethical living, and detachment so the mind is unshaken at the time of death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: threshold of death (antya-kāla)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yamadūta-darśana and fearlessness through nāma-smaraṇa (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadutas

FAQs

What is the importance of becoming free from moha (delusion) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when the “net of delusion” is absent, inner disturbances cease and the person meets death without fear, even of Yama’s messengers.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul at the time of death?

It implies that a purified, undeluded person does not experience terror or harassment associated with Yamadutas, indicating a smoother transition at death aligned with dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce moha through ethical living, remembrance of the Divine, and disciplined conduct so the mind is steady—making one less fearful and more prepared for life’s end.