Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तेन मम जातं नृपोत्तम / एकादशं त्रिपक्षञ्च षाण्मासिकमथाब्दिकम्

Transliteration

pretatvaṃ susthiraṃ tena mama jātaṃ nṛpottama / ekādaśaṃ tripakṣañca ṣāṇmāsikamathābdikam

Translation

ด้วยเหตุนั้น โอ้พระราชาผู้ประเสริฐ ภาวะเป็นเปรตของข้าพเจ้าจึงตั้งมั่น—จนถึงพิธีวันที่สิบเอ็ด พิธีสามปักษ์ พิธีหกเดือน และต่อด้วยพิธีรายปี.

Word by Word

• प्रेतत्वम्: the state of being a preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-त्वान्त (state of being a preta)

• सुस्थिरम्: very stable/lasting
• सुस्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘प्रेतत्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (very firm/lasting)

• तेन: therefore/by that (reason)
• तेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (Instrumental singular: ‘therefore/by that’)

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Genitive singular)

• जातम्: has become
• जातम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः, नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; ‘भवति’ अर्थे (has become)

• नृपोत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः नृपः) (Vocative singular)

• एकादशम्: the eleventh-day (rite)
• एकादशम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; श्राद्ध-विशेषस्य नाम (the eleventh-day rite)

• त्रिपक्षम्: the three-fortnights (rite)
• त्रिपक्षम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः पक्षाः) (three-fortnights rite)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• षाण्मासिकम्: the six-month (rite)
• षाण्मासिकम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षाण्मासिक (प्रातिपदिक) < षण् + मास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (षण्माससम्बन्धि) (six-monthly rite)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्ययम् (then/thereafter)

• आब्दिकम्: the annual (rite)
• आब्दिकम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक) < अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; वार्षिक-श्राद्ध (annual rite)

Speaker

A preta (departed soul) narrating to a king (nṛpottama) within the Preta Kanda discourse

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ekādaśāha (11th day), tripakṣa (three fortnights), ṣaṇmāsika (six-month), ābdika (annual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without timely rites, the departed can remain bound in preta-bhāva; ritual acts function as karmic supports enabling transition.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity after death; karma and saṃskāra operate beyond gross death, and dharmic rites affect the preta’s trajectory.

Application: Ensure the sequence of post-death rites is performed on schedule (11th day, subsequent periodic rites), especially when the deceased lacks close kin.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: liminal realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa: descriptions of preta’s dependence on śrāddha and the time-bound sequence of ekādaśāha, māsika, ṣaṇmāsika, ābdika

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• King (Nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of the eleventh-day (ekādaśāha) rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the eleventh-day observance as a key milestone in the post-death ritual sequence that directly relates to the preta’s condition, marking a crucial stage before later periodic rites.

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

It indicates that the departed can remain in a “preta” condition for a defined ritual period, and that specific śrāddha milestones (11th day, three fortnights, six months, annual rite) frame the transition and stabilization of the post-mortem state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows Hindu ancestral rites, this verse supports performing the scheduled śrāddha milestones punctually (11th-day and subsequent periodic rites) as a dharmic duty toward the departed.