Shloka 42

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच / एवं विप्राः समाद्दिष्टो विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना / गरुड प्रेतचरितं श्रुत्वा सन्तुष्टिमागतः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca / evaṃ viprāḥ samāddiṣṭo viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā / garuḍa pretacaritaṃ śrutvā santuṣṭimāgataḥ

Translation

สูตะกล่าวว่า: ดูก่อนพราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย ครั้นครุฑได้รับคำสอนโดยชอบจากพระวิษณุผู้ทรงฤทธิ์แล้ว เมื่อได้ฟังเรื่องราวแห่งเปรต ก็เกิดความอิ่มเอมสันติในใจ

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (narrator)
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘thus/in this manner’

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative/Nominative Plural; here addressed (सम्बोधन)

• samādiṣṭaḥ: was instructed
• samādiṣṭaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√diś (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; ‘having been instructed/commanded’ (agreeing with implied ‘(ayam) garuḍaḥ’ or context)

• viṣṇunā: by Viṣṇu
• viṣṇunā: Kartṛ (कर्ता; in passive = agent/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent in passive

• prabhaviṣṇunā: by the powerful Viṣṇu
• prabhaviṣṇunā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabha + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; karmadhāraya ‘mighty Viṣṇu / Viṣṇu who is powerful’ qualifying ‘viṣṇunā’

• garuḍa: O Garuḍa
• garuḍa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• preta-caritam: the account of the departed spirit
• preta-caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + carita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √car + kta)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘account/story of the preta’

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) ‘having heard’

• santuṣṭim: contentment/satisfaction
• santuṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: santuṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āgataḥ: attained/came to
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; ‘having attained/come to’ (with object ‘santuṣṭim’)

Speaker

Sūta

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Instruction comes from Viṣṇu, the all-powerful; hearing (śravaṇa) of preta-carita yields inner satisfaction and steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa as a means to clarity; īśvara-prāmāṇya (trust in divine source) stabilizes the mind.

Application: Approach afterlife teachings with reverence and attentive listening; let understanding reduce fear and increase composure in bereavement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: narrative assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dialogue frame: Viṣṇu–Garuḍa saṃvāda on preta-gati (contextual); Sūta-narration conventions in Purāṇas (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Vipras
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-charita (the account of the departed spirit) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames preta-charita as a complete teaching given by Viṣṇu, implying it is authoritative guidance for understanding the post-death condition and the religious duties connected with it.

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

It signals that the text has just presented an organized description of the preta’s condition and journey, and that Garuḍa’s satisfaction indicates the teaching is coherent and sufficient for grasping the after-death process.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study of these teachings encourages timely performance of śrāddha and other duties for the departed, and supports ethical living by keeping the consequences of karma and the afterlife journey in view.