Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 67

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

निष्क्रम्यमाणो वातेन प्राजापत्येन पीड्यते / निष्क्रमते च विलपंस्तदा दुःखनिपीडितः

Transliteration

niṣkramyamāṇo vātena prājāpatyena pīḍyate / niṣkramate ca vilapaṃstadā duḥkhanipīḍitaḥ

Translation

当众生将要出离之时，受“普罗阇钵底之风”（prājāpatya vāyu）所逼恼；而在离出之际，他当时哀号啼哭，被痛苦重重压迫。

Word by Word

• निष्क्रम्यमाणः: being expelled/coming out
• निष्क्रम्यमाणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निस्-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रत्यय (Present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वातेन: by wind/air
• वातेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राजापत्येन: by the Prajāpatya (vital wind/force)
• प्राजापत्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• पीड्यते: is tormented
• पीड्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• निष्क्रमते: comes out; is born
• निष्क्रमते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Connector (Samyojaka/सम्योजक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• विलपन्: crying, lamenting
• विलपन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-लप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• दुःखनिपीडितः: oppressed by suffering
• दुःखनिपीडितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + नि-पीडित (कृदन्त; √पीड्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'दुःखेन निपीडितः' = oppressed by pain

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Birth is intrinsically duḥkha; the jīva is propelled by forces (vāyu/kāla/karma) and laments under suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as duḥkha-maya; bondage expressed as helplessness under guṇas and prārabdha until liberation is sought.

Application: Strengthen empathy and non-harm; renew commitment to practices that reduce rebirth-causes (desire, anger, greed) and cultivate liberation-oriented living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: body-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (prasava-duḥkha; prājāpatya-vāyu motif)

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Vayu (life-wind)

FAQs

What is the importance of the prājāpatya wind in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that a specific vital wind (prājāpatya vāyu) is involved in the soul’s separation from the body, and its force is experienced as intense distress during the moment of departure.

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

It portrays the immediate transition: the jīva, pressed by a powerful life-wind, exits the body in pain and lamentation—setting the stage for the post-death (preta) journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages mindful living and preparation for death—through dharma, restraint, and sincere spiritual practice—so the final transition is faced with greater clarity and less inner turmoil.