Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 28
Entry into Yama’s Abode; Nature, Causes, and Signs of the Preta-State
हीनजात्या च सम्बन्धो हीनकर्म करोति यः / अधर्मे रमते नित्यं सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा
hīnajātyā ca sambandho hīnakarma karoti yaḥ / adharme ramate nityaṃ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā
جو کمینے لوگوں سے تعلق رکھتا ہے، گھٹیا کام کرتا ہے، اور مسلسل بے دینی میں خوش رہتا ہے، وہ پریت سے پیدا ہونے والی تکلیف ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Persistent delight in adharma and degrading conduct/associations leads to preta-pida.
Vedantic Theme: Samskara formation through sangati (company) shaping karma; tamasic tendencies binding the jiva to lower states.
Application: Choose uplifting company (satsanga), avoid habitual unethical environments, and replace degrading actions with dharmic disciplines and service.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: moral causation lists for preta-pida; emphasis on sangati and conduct in dharma sections
FAQs
This verse links persistent adharma and degrading conduct—often reinforced by harmful company—to suffering described as preta-born affliction, emphasizing moral causality and unseen afterlife-related disturbances.
By naming suffering as 'preta-sambhavā,' it implies that unresolved impurity and sinful tendencies can attract preta-like conditions or influences, obstructing peace and a wholesome post-death transition.
Choose uplifting company, avoid actions that degrade character, and cultivate dharma consistently—because repeated indulgence in adharma is portrayed as inviting deep psychological and spiritual distress.