Shloka 71

Svapnādhāya (Dream-Chapter): Causes, Forms, Nourishment, and Liberation of Pretas

Devanagari script

देवद्रव्यं च ब्रह्मस्वं गुरुद्रव्यं तथैव च / कन्यां ददाति शुल्केन स प्रेतो जायते नरः

Transliteration

devadravyaṃ ca brahmasvaṃ gurudravyaṃ tathaiva ca / kanyāṃ dadāti śulkena sa preto jāyate naraḥ

Translation

مَن يختلس مالَ الدِّيفا، أو ما خُصِّص للبراهمة، أو متاعَ الغورو، ويُزوِّج العذراء لقاء ثمنٍ، يصير بريتا، روحًا لا تهدأ.

Word by Word

• देवद्रव्यम्: property of a deity/temple property
• देवद्रव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवस्य द्रव्यम्)

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

• ब्रह्मस्वम्: Brahmin’s property
• ब्रह्मस्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः स्वम् = Brahmin’s property)

• गुरुद्रव्यम्: teacher’s property
• गुरुद्रव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः द्रव्यम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (in like manner)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः

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

• कन्याम्: a maiden/daughter
• कन्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शुल्केन: for a bride-price/fee
• शुल्केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-प्रयोगः (for a price)

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

• प्रेतः: a preta
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: is born/becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriating sacred/teacher property and treating a maiden as a commodity (śulka) are grave adharma leading to preta-bhava.

Vedantic Theme: Aparādha against the sacred (deva/guru) intensifies karmic bondage; dharma protects social and spiritual order.

Application: Respect trust property and institutional funds; honor teacher-student ethics; reject commodification in marriage; practice transparent, consent-based social customs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sins involving deva-dravya and guru-droha leading to severe post-death states (Pretakalpa/Dharma sections)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmins
• Guru
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of devadravya and brahmasva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats wealth dedicated to Devas (devadravya) and sacred/Brahmin-associated property (brahmasva) as highly protected; violating them is said to lead to the preta condition after death.

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

It links specific unethical acts—especially misuse of sacred/guru wealth and monetizing a daughter’s marriage—to karmic results that can obstruct a peaceful transition, resulting in becoming a preta (a restless, unsettled departed being).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid misusing religious/charitable funds, respect teachers’ property, and treat marriage as a dharmic sacrament rather than a transaction—choices framed here as preventing severe post-death karmic consequences.