Shloka 32

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

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

पुन्नामनरकाद्यस्मात्पितरं त्रायते सुतः / तस्मात्पुत्त्र इति प्रोक्त इह चापि परत्र च

Transliteration

punnāmanarakādyasmātpitaraṃ trāyate sutaḥ / tasmātputtra iti prokta iha cāpi paratra ca

Translation

Weil der Sohn seinen Vater aus der Hölle namens Punnāma errettet, wird er daher „puttra“ (Sohn) genannt – sowohl in dieser Welt als auch im Jenseits.

Word by Word

• punnāma-narakāt: from the hell named Punnāma
• punnāma-narakāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: punnāma (प्रातिपदिक) + naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुन्नाम = पुन्नामकः) नरकः → पुन्नामनरकः, तस्मात् (abl.)

• yasmāt: from which
• yasmāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• pitaram: the father
• pitaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• trāyate: protects/saves
• trāyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: trā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• sutaḥ: the son
• sutaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Sambandha/Hetu (Logical connector/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्मात् = therefore/तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थे)

• puttraḥ: (he is called) ‘puttra/son’
• puttraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puttra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-उद्धरण/निरूपणार्थक

• proktaḥ: is said/called
• proktaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/called’

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (here/in this world)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = also/even

• paratra: in the next world
• paratra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paratra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परत्र = in the other world/thereafter

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Putra as ‘deliverer from Punnāma’—filial responsibility and continuity of rites that protect ancestors in the post-mortem journey.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and ṛṇa (especially pitṛ-ṛṇa) within saṃsāra; dharma as a support for welfare across worlds (iha–para).

Application: Maintain pitṛ-kārya (śrāddha, piṇḍa, tarpaṇa) and uphold family duties; understand progeny/discipleship as responsibility, not mere social status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: putra/śrāddha discussions around pitṛ-gati and piṇḍadāna (adjacent chapters in 2.21–2.23)

Characters & Entities

• Pitr̥s (ancestors)
• Naraka (hell)
• Punnāma

FAQs

What is the importance of the term ‘putra’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives an etymological-spiritual meaning: a putra is one who ‘delivers’ (trāyate) the father from the hell called Punnāma, linking family duty with after-death welfare.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rites like Shraddha?

It frames progeny and ancestral rites as protective supports for the departed, implying that rightful duties (such as Shraddha and offerings) aid the father/ancestors in the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor pitṛ-dharma: care for parents, perform remembrance/ritual duties according to one’s tradition, and live responsibly so one becomes a source of support rather than distress for one’s family line.