Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 9

Svapnādhāya (Dream-Chapter): Causes, Forms, Nourishment, and Liberation of Pretas

Devanagari script

महारोगैर्मृता ये च पापरोगैश्च दस्युभिः / असंस्कृतप्रमीता ये विहिताचारवर्जिताः

Transliteration

mahārogairmṛtā ye ca pāparogaiśca dasyubhiḥ / asaṃskṛtapramītā ye vihitācāravarjitāḥ

Translation

凡死于重病者、死于罪业之疾者、或为盗贼所害者；以及未受规定之诸萨姆斯迦罗（saṃskāra，净化圣礼）而亡、缺失所立行仪（ācāra）者——此处所说即是此等人。

Word by Word

• महा: great
• महा: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् पूर्वपद (indeclinable-like prior member) in compound

• रोगैः: by diseases
• रोगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• पाप: sinful, evil
• पाप: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; here used as prior member in compound

• रोगैः: by diseases
• रोगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• दस्युभिः: by robbers/bandits
• दस्युभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अ: un-, not
• अ: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ- (निषेध-उपसर्ग)
• Form: निषेधार्थक उपसर्ग (negative prefix) used in compound

• संस्कृत: purified, consecrated; having rites performed
• संस्कृत: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; here as prior member in compound

• प्रमीताः: dead, deceased
• प्रमीताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + मि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (dead)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विहित: prescribed, enjoined
• विहित: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; here as prior member in compound

• आचार: conduct, practice
• आचार: Karma (Object/कर्म) (as qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; here as prior member in compound

• वर्जिताः: devoid of, having abandoned
• वर्जिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (deprived of/avoiding)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃskāra and vihitācāra (prescribed sacraments and conduct) support an auspicious life-course and death; their absence is spiritually perilous.

Vedantic Theme: Outer dharma supports inner purification (citta-śuddhi), enabling steadier remembrance and better gati; neglect strengthens karmic bondage.

Application: Maintain life-cycle sacraments where culturally relevant; live with ethical discipline; prepare wills/rites; support vulnerable people against violence and deprivation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sections stressing saṃskāra and proper conduct; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta conditions arising from irregular death and ritual neglect

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Robbers (Dasyu)
• Saṃskāras

FAQs

What is the importance of saṃskāras (sacraments) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse groups “those who die without saṃskāras” among difficult/inauspicious death conditions, implying that prescribed rites and disciplined conduct are considered protective supports for a dharmic transition after death.

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

By classifying certain deaths—severe illness, karmically-tainted disease, violent death by robbers, and death without rites—as spiritually problematic, the text sets up why some souls face greater hardship and disturbance in the post-death (preta) condition described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with vihita-ācāra (ethical discipline), take traditional life-cycle rites seriously where applicable, and ensure proper end-of-life and post-death observances are arranged—while also caring for the sick and vulnerable to reduce harm and fear at death.