Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

प्रवालवज्रहर्तारो ये च वस्त्रापहारकाः / तथा हिरण्यहर्तारः संयुगे ऽसन्मुखागताः

Transliteration

pravālavajrahartāro ye ca vastrāpahārakāḥ / tathā hiraṇyahartāraḥ saṃyuge 'sanmukhāgatāḥ

Translation

جو مرجان اور ہیرا چراتے ہیں، جو کپڑے چھین لیتے ہیں، اور جو سونا ہڑپ کرتے ہیں—ایسے لوگ جنگ میں دشمن کے روبرو نہیں، پیٹھ پھیر کر (رسوائی کے ساتھ) مارے جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• प्रवालवज्रहर्तारः: stealers of coral and diamonds
• प्रवालवज्रहर्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाल-वज्र-हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; प्रवाल + वज्र + हर्तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वस्त्रापहारकाः: cloth-robbers
• वस्त्रापहारकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र-अपहारक (प्रातिपदिक; वस्त्र + अपहारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हिरण्यहर्तारः: gold-stealers
• हिरण्यहर्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य-हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; हिरण्य + हर्तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• असन्मुखागताः: those who came not face-to-face (attacked from behind/without confronting)
• असन्मुखागताः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सन्मुख-आगत (प्रातिपदिक; सन्मुख + आगत, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘आगत’; विशेषणम् (of the persons mentioned)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Theft of valuables (coral, diamond, garments, gold) leads to ignominious fate—symbolized as dying while turning away in battle.

Vedantic Theme: Adharmic acquisition strengthens tamas and binds the jīva to suffering and lower states; loss of kīrti (honor) as karmic fruit.

Application: Practice asteya (non-stealing), honest livelihood, and integrity; recognize that ill-gotten wealth corrodes courage and reputation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: theft-related sins and their fruits; lists of papa leading to preta/naraka outcomes (contextual parallel).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana?

It classifies specific thefts—coral/diamonds, garments, and gold—and states a karmic outcome: such sinners meet a dishonorable end, symbolized by facing away in battle.

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

Within the Preta Kanda’s moral-causal framework, it links adharma (stealing) to a degrading fate; such karmic imprints are later judged in Yama’s domain and shape suffering and rebirth conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking others’ property in any form (including exploitation or fraud); practice honest livelihood and restitution, as dharmic conduct is presented as directly shaping one’s dignity in life and consequences after death.