Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / पक्षिराज शृणुष्व त्वं यत्र प्रेताश्चरन्ति वै / परार्थदारग्रहणाच्छ (ब) लाद्द्रोहान्निशाचराः

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / pakṣirāja śṛṇuṣva tvaṃ yatra pretāścaranti vai / parārthadāragrahaṇāccha (ba) lāddrohānniśācarāḥ

Translation

พระศรีกฤษณะตรัสว่า “โอ้ราชาแห่งนก จงฟังเถิด; มีแดนหนึ่งที่เหล่าเปรตพเนจรอยู่จริง ผู้ใดฉกชิงทรัพย์และภรรยาของผู้อื่น และผู้ใดทรยศด้วยกำลัง ผู้นั้นย่อมเป็นนิศาจร (ผู้เร่ร่อนยามราตรี) ณ ที่นั้น”

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—श्री + कृष्ण (कर्मधारयः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पक्षिराज: O king of birds (Garuḍa)
• पक्षिराज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; समासः—पक्षिणां राजा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• प्रेताः: ghosts/spirits of the dead
• प्रेताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• चरन्ति: wander
• चरन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• परार्थदारग्रहणात्: from seizing another’s wife for gain
• परार्थदारग्रहणात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + अर्थ + दार + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन (हेतोः/अपादानार्थ); समासः—परस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी) + दाराः (षष्ठी) + ग्रहणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला)

• छलात्: from deceit
• छलात्: Hetu/Instrument (Cause/Means/हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; (by/through) deceit

• बलात्: from force/violence
• बलात्: Hetu/Instrument (Cause/Means/हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; (by/through) force

• द्रोहात्: from treachery
• द्रोहात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• निशाचराः: night-roamers (demons)
• निशाचराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—निशायां चरन्ति (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as the divine narrator/teacher addressing Garuḍa)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma—seizing another’s wealth/spouse and violent treachery—ripens into a degraded post-death state as niśācara-like preta.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and adharma as bondage (saṃsāra-bandha); tamas-driven action leading to lower gati.

Application: Guard against exploitation and betrayal; cultivate restraint (dama), non-violence, and fidelity; repair harm through confession, restitution, and dharmic living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly region/realm of wandering spirits

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-yoni descriptions; obstructing śrāddha and pitṛ offerings (cf. nearby 2.20.7); Garuda Purana: Yama’s punishments for paradāra/paradravya and droha themes recur across naraka catalogues

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Pakshiraja)
• Pretas
• Niśācaras

FAQs

What is the importance of describing pretas and niśācaras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific adharma—stealing others’ property, violating marital boundaries, and betrayal by force—to degraded post-death conditions, reinforcing karmic accountability in the Preta Kanda.

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

It indicates that certain violent and deceitful actions can lead the departed to wander as pretas and become niśācaras, implying an afterlife state shaped by one’s conduct rather than mere belief.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and integrity: avoid exploitation of others’ wealth and relationships, and reject betrayal or coercion—ethical living is presented as direct protection against harmful karmic outcomes.