Shloka 68

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

यथा तारागणाः सर्वे च्छाद्यन्ते रविरश्मिभिः / एवं प्रच्छाद्यते सर्वं न प्रेतो भवति क्वचित्

Transliteration

yathā tārāgaṇāḥ sarve cchādyante raviraśmibhiḥ / evaṃ pracchādyate sarvaṃ na preto bhavati kvacit

Translation

సూర్యకిరణాలచే నక్షత్రసమూహమంతా కప్పబడినట్లే, ఆ శ్రేష్ఠ పుణ్యప్రభావం వల్ల సమస్తమూ ఆవరించబడుతుంది; మరణించినవాడు ఎప్పటికీ ప్రేతుడవడు కాదు।

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/उपमेय-सम्बन्धे (comparative particle: “as/just as”)

• तारागणाः: groups of stars
• तारागणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ताराणां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of तारागणाः)

• च्छाद्यन्ते: are covered
• च्छाद्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: “are covered”)

• रविरश्मिभिः: by the sun’s rays
• रविरश्मिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi + raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रवेः रश्मयः)

• एवं: thus
• एवं: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner: “thus/in this way”)

• प्रच्छाद्यते: is covered
• प्रच्छाद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + छद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: “is covered/hidden”)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc); एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थानी (logical subject)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• प्रेतः: a departed spirit (preta)
• प्रेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: Desha/Kaala-adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (indefinite adverb: “anywhere/ever”)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Overwhelming punya (merit) can ‘cover’ adverse post-death states, preventing preta-bhava.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the relative power of sattvic merit to remove obscuration (āvaraṇa) and fear in saṃsāra.

Application: Accumulate sattvic merit through prescribed gifts/rites and devotion so the post-death transition is protected and non-preta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-lakṣaṇa and preta-bhāva nivṛtti through śrāddha/dāna (contextual); Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas where merit is compared to light dispelling darkness (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that becoming a preta is not inevitable; when a stronger, purifying influence (dharma/merit supported by proper rites) prevails, the conditions that lead to preta-hood are ‘covered’ and the departed does not enter that restless state.

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

By using the sun-and-stars analogy, it teaches that higher spiritual force and rightful post-death support can dominate lesser obstructing factors, shaping the soul’s post-mortem condition away from preta-hood and toward a more orderly transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in dharma and, when a death occurs, follow sincere, tradition-aligned antyeṣṭi and śrāddha duties with faith and restraint—prioritizing ethical conduct and responsible remembrance over fear-based superstition.