Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

प्रेत उवाच / शृणु राजेन्द्र संक्षेपाद्विधिं नारायणात्मकम् / सच्छास्त्रश्रवणं विष्णोः पूजा सज्जनसंगतिः

Transliteration

preta uvāca / śṛṇu rājendra saṃkṣepādvidhiṃ nārāyaṇātmakam / sacchāstraśravaṇaṃ viṣṇoḥ pūjā sajjanasaṃgatiḥ

Translation

Preta nói: Hỡi bậc vua tối thượng, xin hãy nghe vắn tắt pháp môn mang bản tính của Nārāyaṇa—lắng nghe chánh kinh điển, thờ phụng Đức Viṣṇu, và gần gũi bậc hiền thiện.

Word by Word

• प्रेतः: the preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संक्षेपात्: briefly, in summary
• संक्षेपात्: Adhikarana/Hetu (Circumstantial/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे—‘संक्षेपेण’ (briefly)

• विधिम्: the procedure, rule
• विधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नारायणात्मकम्: of the nature of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणात्मकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणं ‘विधिम्’ प्रति

• सत्: good, true
• सत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् पूर्वपद-विशेषणम्; ‘शास्त्र’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (good/true)

• शास्त्रश्रवणम्: hearing of scripture
• शास्त्रश्रवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सज्जनसंगतिः: association with good people
• सज्जनसंगतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सज्जन + संगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Preta (departed spirit)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa-dharma as a triad: śāstra-śravaṇa, Viṣṇu-pūjā, and satsaṅga—practices that purify and reorient the jīva.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi and bhagavad-āśraya: purification of mind through devotion and right hearing, preparing for higher knowledge and liberation.

Application: Daily or periodic listening to authentic scripture, regular Viṣṇu worship, and intentional association with virtuous people (community, teachers, sādhus).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: recurring emphasis on śravaṇa–kīrtana–pūjā as remedies for preta/duḥkha states; Garuda Purana, Śrāddha-kalpa sections: satsaṅga and śāstra as supports for right ritual performance

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Nārāyaṇa-centric discipline (nārāyaṇātmaka vidhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames core spiritual practice as centered on Nārāyaṇa: listening to authentic scripture, worship of Viṣṇu, and virtuous company—presented as a concise, essential path for upliftment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s condition after death in the Garuda Purana?

Spoken by a preta, it highlights remedies that support the departed condition: devotional worship, scriptural hearing, and satsanga are portrayed as purifying supports amid post-death vulnerability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly hear/read reliable sacred texts, maintain a steady Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa worship practice, and cultivate the company of ethically grounded people to strengthen dharma and inner clarity.