Shloka 32

Entry into Yama’s Abode; Nature, Causes, and Signs of the Preta-State

Devanagari script

देवतीर्थद्विजानां तु निन्दांयः कुरुते नरः / प्रत्यक्षं वा परोक्षं वा सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा

Transliteration

devatīrthadvijānāṃ tu nindāṃyaḥ kurute naraḥ / pratyakṣaṃ vā parokṣaṃ vā sā pīḍā pretasambhavā

Translation

Aquele que difama os deuses, os lugares sagrados de peregrinação (tīrtha) ou os dvija (brâmanes), seja abertamente ou às escondidas, incorre num tormento que nasce no estado de preta.

Word by Word

• deva-tīrtha-dvijānām: of gods, sacred places, and twice-born (Brahmins)
• deva-tīrtha-dvijānām: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (देवाश्च तीर्थानि च द्विजाश्च); Genitive plural

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• nindām: censure, insult
• nindām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun (he who)

• kurute: does, commits
• kurute: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; does/commits

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• pratyakṣam: directly, openly
• pratyakṣam: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adverbial accusative (openly)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• parokṣam: indirectly, secretly
• parokṣam: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adverbial accusative (indirectly/behind one’s back)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• sā: that
• sā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pīḍā: affliction
• pīḍā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• preta-sambhavā: arising from a preta
• preta-sambhavā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; agrees with pīḍā

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nindā (revilement) of devas, tīrthas, and dvijas—openly or secretly—produces preta-linked torment; speech ethics are karmically potent.

Vedantic Theme: Vāk (speech) as karma; disrespect toward sacred supports (deva, tīrtha, brāhmaṇa) deepens tamas and binds to suffering.

Application: Practice satya-hita speech; avoid slander, especially of sacred institutions; cultivate reverence and critical humility rather than contempt.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages on nindā as pāpa and on tīrtha-mahātmyas; Pretakalpa lists of sins leading to preta states

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Tirthas
• Dvijas
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding nindā (slander) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that slandering devas, sacred tirthas, or dvijas becomes a direct cause of suffering after death, manifesting as preta-born torment.

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

It links a specific moral fault—revilement in speech—to consequences experienced in the preta condition, implying that post-death experiences reflect one’s karmic speech and conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint in speech: avoid public or private disparagement of sacred persons/places/traditions, and cultivate respectful, truthful communication to reduce harmful karmic outcomes.