Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् / युधिष्ठिरस्य संवादं भीष्मेण सह सुव्रत / तदहं कथयिष्यामि यच्छ्रुत्वा सौख्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam / yudhiṣṭhirasya saṃvādaṃ bhīṣmeṇa saha suvrata / tadahaṃ kathayiṣyāmi yacchrutvā saukhyamāpnuyāt

Translation

Here itself I shall cite an ancient sacred account: the dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira with Bhīṣma, O you of good vows. That I shall now relate—by hearing which one may attain peace and well-being.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: here)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• उदाहरन्ति: they relate, they cite
• उदाहरन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+आ+हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: हृ—‘to bring/relate’, उपसर्ग: उद्+आ; अर्थ: ‘उदाहरन्ति’ = they cite/relate

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘this’ (qualifies इतिहासनम्)

• इतिहासम्: legend, historical account
• इतिहासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies इतिहासम्)

• युधिष्ठिरस्य: of Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• संवादम्: dialogue
• संवादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भीष्मेण: with Bhīṣma (by/along with Bhīṣma)
• भीष्मेण: Saha/Instrumental associate (सह-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sambandha (Association/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (preposition: with)

• सुव्रत: O good-vowed one
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु+व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सु (good) + व्रत (vowed)

• तत्: that (account)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘that/this (matter)’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• कथयिष्यामि: I will tell
• कथयिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: कथय्—‘to tell/relate’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun: which/that)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); धातु: श्रु—‘to hear’; अर्थ: ‘having heard’

• सौख्यम्: happiness, ease
• सौख्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: may attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: आप्—‘to obtain’; अर्थ: ‘may obtain’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of sacred discourse (itihāsa/dharma-kathā) as a direct means to attain sukha and śānti.

Vedantic Theme: Satsaṅga/śravaṇa as a purifier of antaḥkaraṇa, preparing for right knowledge and freedom from moha.

Application: Regularly listen to/recite dharma-kathā with reverence; treat hearing as a disciplined practice (niyama) aimed at inner steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: recurring emphasis on śravaṇa/paṭhana as merit for preta-release (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Yudhisthira
• Bhishma

FAQs

What is the importance of citing an itihāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the Purana grounds its teachings in an authoritative ancient narrative, using the Yudhiṣṭhira–Bhīṣma dialogue to clarify dharma in a memorable, tradition-backed way.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it introduces a dharma-teaching framework—by hearing the forthcoming dialogue, one gains clarity and peace, which in the Preta Kanda context supports right conduct and proper rites connected to the after-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regular, attentive śravaṇa (hearing) of dharma teachings—especially those tied to ancestral duties and ethical living—can cultivate steadiness, reduce fear about death, and guide correct ritual and moral choices.