Shloka 14

Preta-Mokṣa Upāya: Svapna-Lakṣaṇa, Pitṛ-Doṣa, and Prescribed Rites

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

ते तृप्ताः शुभमिच्छन्ति निजबन्धुषु सर्वदा / अज्ञातयस्तु ये दुष्टाः पीडयन्ति स्ववंशजान्

Transliteration

te tṛptāḥ śubhamicchanti nijabandhuṣu sarvadā / ajñātayastu ye duṣṭāḥ pīḍayanti svavaṃśajān

Translation

Sind sie gesättigt, wünschen sie ihren eigenen Verwandten stets Heil und Glück. Doch jene unbekannten (nicht besänftigten) und bösen Angehörigen bedrängen die in ihrer eigenen Linie Geborenen.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तृप्ताः: satisfied
• तृप्ताः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शुभम्: good, auspiciousness
• शुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• निजबन्धुषु: among their own relatives
• निजबन्धुषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (निजाः बन्धवः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अज्ञातयः: unknown/estranged kinsmen
• अज्ञातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• दुष्टाः: wicked
• दुष्टाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पीडयन्ति: torment, afflict
• पीडयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्ववंशजान्: those born in one’s own lineage
• स्ववंशजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + वंश + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य वंशे जाताः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Regular ancestral rites (monthly/annual/parva contexts) to keep pitṛs ‘known’ and satisfied

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Propitiated pitṛs become benevolent guardians; neglected/unknown (unaddressed) ancestral forces can turn harmful, impacting descendants.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence within saṃsāra: unseen bonds (ṛṇa—debts) to ancestors; dharmic maintenance of harmony reduces suffering and obstacles.

Application: Maintain regular śrāddha/ancestral remembrance; keep family rites and ethical living to prevent ‘pitṛ-doṣa’ style disturbances (in Purāṇic framing).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana on pitṛs granting śubha when satisfied and causing obstacles when neglected; Garuda Purana lists of afflictions arising from preta/pitṛ displeasure

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Ancestors
• Descendants

FAQs

What is the importance of satisfying the Pitris in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when the departed are satisfied, they continuously wish and support the welfare of their own relatives, implying a protective and beneficent ancestral influence.

How does this verse explain suffering in a family line?

It links affliction of descendants to “unknown/unpropitiated” and harmful departed relations, indicating that neglect of ancestral rites can manifest as ongoing distress within the lineage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular ancestral observances (e.g., śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity), and live ethically toward family and lineage—aiming to convert neglect into remembrance and goodwill.