Shloka 9

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

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

तदा तत्र विनाशाय चित्तभङ्गं करोति सा / श्रेयांसि बहुविघ्नानि सम्भवन्ति पदेपदे

Transliteration

tadā tatra vināśāya cittabhaṅgaṃ karoti sā / śreyāṃsi bahuvighnāni sambhavanti padepade

Translation

Dann und dort, zum Verderben, bewirkt sie einen Bruch und Wirrwarr des Geistes; selbst glückverheißende Vorhaben stoßen auf viele Hindernisse bei jedem Schritt.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (for destruction)

• चित्तभङ्गम्: mental disturbance/breaking
• चित्तभङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('breaking of mind'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• करोति: does/causes
• करोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; कर्तरि

• सा: she/that (affliction)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; कर्ता (refers to प्रेतपीडा)

• श्रेयांसि: good things/benefits
• श्रेयांसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• बहुविघ्नानि: with many obstacles
• बहुविघ्नानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ('many' + 'obstacles' = many obstacles); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies श्रेयांसि as 'with many obstacles')

• सम्भवन्ति: arise/occur
• सम्भवन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; कर्तरि

• पदे: at a step/place
• पदे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• पदे: at every step
• पदे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति द्वारा अव्ययीभावार्थ (at every step)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-affliction manifests as citta-bhaṅga (mental break/confusion) and vighna (obstacles), derailing śreyas (beneficial pursuits).

Vedantic Theme: Antarāya (obstruction) and citta-vikṣepa: disturbed mind blocks discernment and dharmic progress; steadiness (ekāgratā) is protective.

Application: When persistent obstacles and mental fragmentation arise, prioritize stabilizing practices: regular sāttvika routine, counsel, prayer/śānti, and recommitment to śreyas over preyas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: vighna-lakṣaṇa and preta-upadrava descriptions; Garuda Purana: remedies emphasizing śānti, dāna, and mantra to remove vighna

FAQs

What is the importance of chitta-bhanga (mental break) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that a collapse of resolve can become the direct cause of spiritual and practical ruin, making even beneficial actions fail through repeated impediments.

How does this verse explain why good deeds face obstacles?

It states that when the mind is disturbed and fragmented, vighnas naturally arise “at every step,” obstructing śreyas—actions meant for welfare, merit, and right living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Protect clarity of intention: maintain steadiness in dharmic routines (prayer, charity, duty), reduce distractions, and persist through setbacks rather than abandoning auspicious commitments.