Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 42

Entry into Yama’s Abode; Nature, Causes, and Signs of the Preta-State

Devanagari script

विकर्मा जायते प्रेतो ह्यविधिक्रियया तथा / तत्कालदुष्टसंसर्गाद्वृषोत्सर्गादृते तथा

Transliteration

vikarmā jāyate preto hyavidhikriyayā tathā / tatkāladuṣṭasaṃsargādvṛṣotsargādṛte tathā

Translation

Kẻ làm việc trái phép, tà hạnh (vikarma) thì trở thành preta; cũng vậy, người cử hành tang lễ trái với nghi pháp đúng đắn cũng thành preta. Lại nữa, do giao du với kẻ ác vào thời khắc trọng yếu (lúc lâm chung/đang làm lễ), và do không thực hiện nghi lễ vṛṣotsarga, người ta cũng rơi vào thân phận preta.

Word by Word

• विकर्मा: one who does forbidden acts; wrong-doer
• विकर्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जायते: becomes/is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• प्रेतः: a preta (restless spirit)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• अविधिक्रियया: by improper ritual/action
• अविधिक्रियया: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + विधि + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अविधिः क्रिया = improper rite/action); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/likewise)

• तत्कालदुष्टसंसर्गात्: from contact with the wicked at that time
• तत्कालदुष्टसंसर्गात्: Apadana (Source/cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्काल + दुष्ट + संसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (तत्काले दुष्टस्य संसर्गः = association with the wicked at that time); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (Singular)

• वृषोत्सर्गात्: from (neglect of) the bull-release rite
• वृषोत्सर्गात्: Apadana (Source/cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वृषस्य उत्सर्गः = release/donation of a bull); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋते: without, except
• ऋते: Sambandha (Exclusion/वर्जन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: वर्जनार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable of exclusion: without/except)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi and immediate post-death liminal period (tad-kāla)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vikarma and avidhi-kriyā (improper rites) can lead to pretatva; association with the wicked at the liminal moment and omission of vṛṣotsarga are cited as causal faults.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual order (vidhi) as a dharmic support for the jīva’s transition; saṅga (company) shaping karma and destiny.

Application: Follow proper antyeṣṭi and śrāddha procedures under competent guidance; avoid harmful influences during death/ritual periods; complete prescribed ancillary rites such as vṛṣotsarga where tradition requires.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Pretakalpa causes of pretatva (this verse) and consequences (2.20.43); Garuda Purana: śrāddha-vidhi chapters (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of proper death rituals (avidhi vs vidhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing rites without proper injunction (avidhikriyā) can lead to the deceased becoming a preta, highlighting that correct procedure is treated as spiritually consequential.

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

It implies that moral transgression (vikarma) and ritual failures can obstruct the post-death transition, resulting in a preta state—restlessness and lack of proper onward movement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in alignment with dharma, avoid harmful company during critical life moments, and ensure last rites/śrāddha are performed carefully under competent guidance rather than casually or incorrectly.