Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 6
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama
न मे ऽस्ति बन्धुर्यममार्गगामिनो मया न कृत्यं द्विजदेहलिप्सया / सम्प्राप्य विप्रत्वमतीव दुर्लभं नाधीतवान्वेदपुराणसंहिताः / प्राप्तं सुरत्नं करसंस्थितं गतं देहन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्
na me 'sti bandhuryamamārgagāmino mayā na kṛtyaṃ dvijadehalipsayā / samprāpya vipratvamatīva durlabhaṃ nādhītavānvedapurāṇasaṃhitāḥ / prāptaṃ suratnaṃ karasaṃsthitaṃ gataṃ dehankvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam
“我今行于阎摩之路，竟无真友。因贪恋二生之身的安逸享乐，我未行当行之事。得此极难得的婆罗门之位，仍不曾研习《吠陀》与《往世书》之汇编。宝珠曾入我手却又失落——此身已去不知何处；凭此身你究竟成就了何等解脱？”
Preta (departed soul) expressing remorse on the way to Yama; narrated within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Human/brāhmaṇa birth is exceedingly rare and valuable; neglecting Veda-Purāṇa study and prescribed duties out of bodily greed results in spiritual bankruptcy at death.
Vedantic Theme: Durlabha-mānuṣya-janma and the urgency of sādhana; śāstra as pramāṇa; dehābhimāna (body-identification) as bondage.
Application: Treat education and spiritual practice as non-negotiable; schedule daily śāstra-svādhyāya and self-audit to prevent ‘jewel-in-hand’ loss.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: liminal road/route
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated ‘durlabha’ motif of human birth and the necessity of śāstra, dāna, and bhakti before death; Garuda Purana: lamentations of the preta about missed svādhyāya and dāna
FAQs
This verse frames Veda–Purāṇa study as a core use of the rare human/brāhmaṇa life; neglecting it leads to remorse when one reaches Yama’s path, realizing the body was a “precious jewel” wasted.
It depicts the departed as already “going on Yama’s road,” feeling friendless and unprotected—highlighting that worldly supports fall away, and only dharma (fulfilled duties and right knowledge) can function as true aid.
Treat life as a rare opportunity: prioritize daily dharma (ethical conduct, duties), genuine learning (scripture or disciplined self-study), and reduce mere pleasure-seeking so that one meets death without regret.