Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 74

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

शीघ्रं स च मया भ्राता लुब्धेनैकः पृथक्कृतः / आप्तवान्परमं दुःखं सोन्नवस्त्रविवर्जितः

Transliteration

śīghraṃ sa ca mayā bhrātā lubdhenaikaḥ pṛthakkṛtaḥ / āptavānparamaṃ duḥkhaṃ sonnavastravivarjitaḥ

Translation

不久，我因贪欲也将兄长分离，使他孤身一人；随后他遭受极重苦难，既无食物亦无衣裳。

Word by Word

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• लुब्धेन: by the greedy (one)
• लुब्धेन: Kartr̥/Hetu (Agent/Cause in instrumental/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lubdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √lubh (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• कृतः: made/done (i.e., separated)
• कृतः: Karma (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• आप्तवान्: obtained/experienced
• आप्तवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp-ta-vat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √āp (धातु) + क्त + वत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवत्/परिपूर्णभूतार्थक), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (having obtained)

• परमम्: supreme/great
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उन्नवस्त्रविवर्जितः: deprived of (proper) clothing
• उन्नवस्त्रविवर्जितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unna-vastra-vivarjita (प्रातिपदिक); unna (उन्न/उन्नत? as adjective) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त; √vṛj/√varj (धातु) + वि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वस्त्र-विवर्जितः = वस्त्रैः विवर्जितः/वस्त्ररहितः)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), narrating to Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Greed (lobha) and betrayal of kin produce severe duhkha as karmaphala.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana through raga-dvesha; suffering as consequence of avidya-driven grasping.

Application: Cultivate non-greed and protect dependents; share resources, especially with siblings and the vulnerable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: themes of preta-state arising from neglect, cruelty, and deprivation; Garuda Purana Shraddha-khanda: relief of departed through offerings by relatives

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Brother

FAQs

What is the importance of greed (lobha) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse highlights that greed-driven actions—such as abandoning or isolating one’s own kin—ripen into severe suffering, symbolized here by deprivation of basic necessities like food and clothing.

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

Within the Preta Kanda narrative, suffering is shown as a direct karmic outcome: harmful choices made in life manifest as hardship and lack during the vulnerable post-death condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid exploiting or abandoning relatives for gain; practice generosity and responsibility—ensuring others’ basic needs—so that one’s conduct aligns with dharma rather than greed.