Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 89

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

तस्माच्च प्रच्युता राज्ञामन्येषां च महात्मनाम् / जायन्ते नीरुजां गेहे स द्वृत्तिपीरपालकाः

Transliteration

tasmācca pracyutā rājñāmanyeṣāṃ ca mahātmanām / jāyante nīrujāṃ gehe sa dvṛttipīrapālakāḥ

Translation

因此，那些从王者之位堕落者，以及从其他大心者之阶堕落者，将投生于健康之人的家中，成为看护与侍从，以服侍为生。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (cause/condition)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• प्रच्युता: fallen away, departed
• प्रच्युता: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < च्यु (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (पाठानुसार) पुंलिङ्ग-रूपम्; विशेषणम् (ते/जनाः)

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्येषाम्: of other
• अन्येषाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (महात्मनाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• महात्मनाम्: of great-souled persons
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• जायन्ते: are born, arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• नीरुजाम्: of the healthy (free from disease)
• नीरुजाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीरुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गेहे—सम्बन्धे ‘of the healthy/without disease’)

• गेहे: in a house/home
• गेहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह/गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स: he/that
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पाठे ‘स’—संभवतः ‘ते’ अपेक्षित)

• द्वृत्ति-पीर-पालकाः: guardians/maintainers of evil conduct and affliction
• द्वृत्ति-पीर-पालकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्-वृत्ति/द्वृत्ति) + पीर (प्रातिपदिक) + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्वृत्तिपीरस्य पालकाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Loss of former rank leads to rebirth in subordinate roles; social station is a karmic outcome.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra’s fluctuation (uccāvacatva) and the non-ultimate nature of worldly identity.

Application: Practice humility and ethical leadership; treat attendants with dignity, remembering roles can reverse across births.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/social setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: passages on rebirth according to residual karma and loss of former enjoyments (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kings (Rajas)
• Mahātmanas (noble persons)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-based fall in status in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that worldly rank (even kingship) can be lost due to karmic decline, leading to rebirth in dependent, service-based roles, reinforcing accountability for one’s conduct and duties.

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

In the Preta Kanda’s karmic framework, the soul’s post-death trajectory culminates in a new birth aligned with merits and demerits; here, loss of former dignity results in rebirth within households where one survives through service and attendance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat authority as a dharmic responsibility, avoid abuse of power and arrogance, and cultivate service, humility, and ethical governance—since status is portrayed as impermanent and karma-dependent.