Shloka 23

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

प्रेत उवाच / कथयामि नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वमेवादितस्तव / प्रेतत्वे कारणं श्रुत्वा दयां कर्तुं ममार्हसि

Transliteration

preta uvāca / kathayāmi nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvamevāditastava / pretatve kāraṇaṃ śrutvā dayāṃ kartuṃ mamārhasi

Translation

เปรตกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่พระราชาผู้ประเสริฐ ข้าจะเล่าทุกสิ่งตั้งแต่ต้น เมื่อทรงสดับเหตุแห่งความเป็นเปรตของข้าแล้ว ขอทรงเมตตาข้าด้วย”

Word by Word

• प्रेतः: the preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• कथयामि: I tell, I narrate
• कथयामि: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त from कथ्/कथ)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृपश्रेष्ठ: O best of kings
• नृपश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘श्रेष्ठः नृपाणाम्’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle) = emphasis/limitation

• आदितः: from the beginning
• आदितः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्राय प्रयोग; अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘from the beginning’

• तव: to you / of you
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रेतत्वे: in the state of being a preta
• प्रेतत्वे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक; भाव-प्रत्यय -त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive) = having heard

• दयाम्: compassion
• दयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do, to show
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तुम् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive) = ‘to do’

• मम: of me / to me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अर्हसि: you ought, you are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Preta (departed spirit)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-state has a specific cause (karma/ritual lapse); knowing the cause enables appropriate remedy and compassion.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as orderly moral causation; compassion (dayā) as sattvic response to suffering.

Application: Investigate root causes of distress (ethical, behavioral, ritual, social) before prescribing remedies; cultivate compassion toward the afflicted.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta requesting aid after narrating the cause of preta-hood; Garuda Purana: repeated motif—hearing (śravaṇa) precedes śrāddha/daana remedies

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• King (nṛpaśreṣṭha)

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding the cause of pretahood (preta-bhāva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames that knowing the specific cause behind a preta’s condition is essential so the living can respond with appropriate compassion and corrective rites.

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

It introduces the narrative voice of a preta, implying an intermediate post-death condition where the departed can suffer and seek relief through the informed actions of the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate compassion for the deceased and, when appropriate, follow dharmic funeral and śrāddha practices with the intention of relieving post-death distress.