Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

गजयक्ष्मादिसम्भूतिः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा / अपि स्वयं धनं मुक्तं प्रयत्नादनवे पथि

Transliteration

gajayakṣmādisambhūtiḥ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā / api svayaṃ dhanaṃ muktaṃ prayatnādanave pathi

Translation

గజక్ష్మాది వ్యాధుల వల్ల కలిగే యాతన, అది ప్రేతభావం నుండి పుట్టినదే. తానే విడిచిన (వ్యయమో దానమో చేసిన) ధనమూ ఆ దుర్గమ మార్గంలో మహా ప్రయత్నం లేకుండా లభించదు.

Word by Word

• गज-यक्ष्म-आदि-सम्भूतिः: arising of diseases like elephantiasis etc.
• गज-यक्ष्म-आदि-सम्भूतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + यक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान) = ‘occurrence/affliction such as elephantiasis, consumption, etc.’

• सा: that
• सा: Visheshya (Correlative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• प्रेत-सम्भवा: preta-born
• प्रेत-सम्भवा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) = even/also

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent-emphasis/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = by oneself

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मुक्तम्: lost/released
• मुक्तम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘released/lost’ (agreeing with धनम्)

• प्रयत्नात्: from (one’s) effort
• प्रयत्नात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान = ‘from effort/through effort’

• अनवे: in an unsafe (place)
• अनवे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पाठदोषसम्भवः (likely ‘अनवे’ = ‘unprotected/unsafe’)

• पथि: on the road
• पथि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘पथिन्’ सप्तमी एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unresolved preta-condition correlates with persistent suffering—disease and economic obstruction—suggesting karmic blockage until proper pacification/rites occur.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha producing duḥkha in body and artha; necessity of saṃskāra to restore order in vyavahāra.

Application: If recurring illness and inexplicable financial obstruction persist, combine medical care with śānti measures: śrāddha/preta-śānti, charity, and disciplined livelihood.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: metaphoric/liminal path

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.9.59–63 (continuation of preta-upadrava signs)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that the preta condition itself generates intense torment, likened to severe diseases, emphasizing the urgency of proper rites and righteous living to avoid prolonged preta suffering.

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

It portrays the post-death journey as an “anava patha”—a harsh, trackless route—where even resources one once had (wealth spent or offered) do not help easily, underscoring the difficulty of the passage without spiritual support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and perform prescribed duties and ancestral rites with sincerity; the teaching stresses that post-death relief is not automatic and that preparation through dharma and proper observances matters.