Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 12

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

यत्र तत्र गृहे ऽश्राति परक्षेत्ररतस्तथा / एतैरन्यैर्महादोषैर्जायते चायुषः क्षयः

Transliteration

yatra tatra gṛhe 'śrāti parakṣetraratastathā / etairanyairmahādoṣairjāyate cāyuṣaḥ kṣayaḥ

Translation

在任何人家都不加分别而受食者，以及沉溺于他人妻室者——由此等重大过失及其他诸罪，寿命确实会被削减。

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (correlative adverb: there)

• गृहे: in a house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अश्राति: (textual) one without śrāddha/impure conduct (uncertain reading)
• अश्राति: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राति (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संदिग्ध-पाठ (possibly intended: अश्राद्धी/अश्राद्धम्/अश्राद्धी)

• परक्षेत्ररतः: attached to another's field (i.e., another's wife/property)
• परक्षेत्ररतः: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + क्षेत्र + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अन्यैः: other
• अन्यैः: Visheshana (to दोषैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• महादोषैः: by great faults
• महादोषैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• जायते: arises, is produced
• जायते: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

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

• आयुषः: of lifespan
• आयुषः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्षयः: loss, diminution
• क्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Major doṣas—indiscriminate acceptance of food (aśuci/asaṃyama) and para-strī-rati—cause āyuḥ-kṣaya.

Vedantic Theme: Sense-indulgence (viṣaya-rāga) strengthens bondage; impurity and adharma disturb sattva and invite karmic retribution.

Application: Practice dietary discernment and ethical relationships; cultivate restraint (brahmacarya/saṃyama) and mindful consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/social

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated lists of mahādoṣa leading to suffering and shortened life (thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of āyuḥ-kṣaya (loss of lifespan) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific adharma—indiscriminate eating and illicit attachment—to measurable karmic consequences, including the shortening of one’s life, reinforcing that conduct affects both worldly longevity and post-death outcomes.

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

By identifying grave faults (mahādoṣa) that diminish lifespan, the text implies earlier death and heavier karmic burden, which in the Preta Kanda framework contributes to harsher experiences in Yama’s domain and the preta-state consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and ethical boundaries in relationships, and be mindful about food sources and company—cultivating purity (śauca) and discipline reduces harmful habits that the tradition associates with karmic decline.