Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 44

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

(३५।४५) ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनामेवं व्यवहारः खगेश्वर / विलुप्य ज्ञातिधर्मञ्च प्रेतपापेन लिप्यते

Transliteration

(35.45) jñātisambandhināmevaṃ vyavahāraḥ khageśvara / vilupya jñātidharmañca pretapāpena lipyate

Translation

Ô Khageśvara (Đại bàng Garuḍa), giữa thân tộc rồi sẽ thành ra như vậy: ai phá bỏ bổn phận đối với họ hàng thì bị vấy nhiễm bởi tội lỗi gắn với trạng thái preta (ô uế sau khi chết và sự bỏ bê nghi lễ).

Word by Word

• ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनाम्: of the relatives/kinsmen
• ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्ञातीनां सम्बन्धिनः)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• व्यवहारः: conduct, practice
• व्यवहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• विलुप्य: having destroyed/omitted
• विलुप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + लुप् (धातु) → विलुप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• ज्ञातिधर्मम्: the duty toward kinsmen
• ज्ञातिधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्ञातीनां धर्मः)

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

• प्रेतपापेन: by/through the sin connected with the preta
• प्रेतपापेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य पापम्)

• लिप्यते: is tainted/smeared
• लिप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When kin-duties connected to death/śrāddha are due

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglecting duties toward relatives (jñāti-dharma), especially in death-rites context, results in being tainted by preta-related sin (preta-pāpa).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha through omission (akaraṇa-doṣa): failure to perform obligatory rites binds and stains the doer; dharma sustains social and spiritual order.

Application: Do not abandon funeral/śrāddha responsibilities; coordinate family duties, ensure rites are completed, and support mourners—omission is treated as a serious fault.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on consequences of neglecting antyeṣṭi/śrāddha and duties to pitṛs; Contextual link to 2.35.42-43 outlining prohibitions and purifications

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāti-dharma (duties to relatives) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that when family obligations are neglected—especially around death-related responsibilities—one’s conduct degenerates and one incurs a specific karmic stain described as preta-related sin.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s condition after death (preta-state)?

By linking neglect of kin-dharma to “preta-pāpa,” the text implies that failures in post-death responsibilities (care, rites, and proper conduct) create karmic burdens associated with the unsettled post-death phase.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain integrity in family responsibilities, support relatives in times of death, and follow appropriate funeral/shraddha observances according to one’s tradition to avoid social and ethical breakdown and karmic harm.