Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

मियन्ते चाल्पवयसः सा पीडा पेतसम्भवा / अकस्माद्वृत्तिहरणमप्रतिष्ठा जनेषु वै

Transliteration

miyante cālpavayasaḥ sā pīḍā petasambhavā / akasmādvṛttiharaṇamapratiṣṭhā janeṣu vai

Translation

म्रियन्ते चाल्पवयसः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा। अकस्माद्वृत्तिहरणं जनैश्चाप्रतिष्ठा भवेत्॥

Word by Word

• मियन्ते: they die
• मियन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मि/√मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अल्प-वयसः: of little age/young
• अल्प-वयसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अल्पं वयः येषाम्/अल्पवयस्काः)

• सा: that
• सा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पीडा)

• पीडा: affliction
• पीडा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पेत-सम्भवा: arising from a preta
• पेत-सम्भवा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पेत/प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पेतात्/प्रेतात् सम्भवा = arising from a preta)

• अकस्मात्: suddenly
• अकस्मात्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘suddenly/without cause’

• वृत्ति-हरणम्: loss/stealing of livelihood
• वृत्ति-हरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वृत्तेः हरणम्)

• अप्रतिष्ठा: lack of reputation/standing
• अप्रतिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• जनेषु: among people
• जनेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Severe misfortunes—early death, sudden loss of means, loss of honor—are presented as effects of preta-related disturbance tied to unresolved post-death obligations.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s multifaceted fruition in saṃsāra; suffering as impetus for corrective dharma and inner detachment.

Application: Respond to cascading misfortunes with practical safeguards (healthcare, financial planning, community support) alongside culturally meaningful rites; avoid fatalism and victim-blaming.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: village/town social sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.9.57: fertility/lineage obstruction as sign; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of pīḍā and their pacification through śrāddha/śānti

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What does this verse say about the effects of preta-related suffering?

It states that preta-born affliction can manifest as early death, sudden loss of livelihood, and loss of social respect.

How does this verse connect karma and worldly misfortune in the Garuda Purana?

The verse frames certain abrupt, destabilizing hardships—like premature death and livelihood disruption—as outcomes linked to the preta-condition, implying karmic and post-death factors affecting embodied life.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Live ethically and responsibly to avoid harmful karmic patterns, and if following tradition, ensure proper last rites and śrāddha observances so the departed is not described as lingering in a preta-like state.