Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

प्रेतभावो मया त्यक्तः प्राप्तो ऽस्मि परमां गतिम् / त्वत्संयोगान्महाबाहो नास्तिधन्यतरो मम

Transliteration

pretabhāvo mayā tyaktaḥ prāpto 'smi paramāṃ gatim / tvatsaṃyogānmahābāho nāstidhanyataro mama

Translation

我已摆脱了饿鬼的状态，获得了至高无上的归宿。哦，臂力强大的君王啊，因为与你相遇，世上再没有比我更幸运的人了。

Word by Word

• प्रेतभावः: the state of being a preta
• प्रेतभावः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतस्य भावः)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• त्यक्तः: abandoned
• त्यक्तः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकालिक कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रियार्थे (has been abandoned)

• प्राप्तः: attained
• प्राप्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रियार्थे (having attained)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गतिम्)

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• त्वत्संयोगात्: from association with you
• त्वत्संयोगात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्वया सह संयोगः; ‘from association with you’)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महान् बाहुः यस्य)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• धन्यतरः: more fortunate
• धन्यतरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तरप् (तुलनार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्ययान्त (comparative)

• मम: than me/of me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

A liberated departed soul (preta) addressing a benefactor described as 'mahābāhu' (contextually, the one whose association enabled release from preta-state).

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deliverance from preta-state and ascent to a higher gati through transformative association (saṅga) with a powerful righteous/devotional presence.

Vedantic Theme: Satsaṅga and grace (anugraha) accelerate purification; movement from conditioned suffering toward higher realization/abode.

Application: Keep company with the virtuous; cultivate devotion and righteous conduct; support the departed through prayers/merit and remembrance of Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated claim that relief from preta-condition comes through merit, rites, and contact with the righteous (general); Garuda Purana: praise of satsaṅga and Viṣṇu-bhakti as liberative (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of the preta-state in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that 'pretabhāva' is a temporary post-death condition that can be overcome, after which the soul attains a higher destiny (paramā gati).

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

It frames the journey as a transition: from preta-hood (unsettled post-death existence) to a supreme state, made possible through the right supportive association or aid.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support the departed through dharmic conduct and prescribed rites with sincere intention, and cultivate uplifting associations in life—both are portrayed as powerful forces for spiritual progress.