Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

सततं श्रवणाद्यस्य पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनात् / मानवा विप्रमुच्यन्ते आपन्नाः प्रेतयोनिषु

Transliteration

satataṃ śravaṇādyasya puṇyaśravaṇakīrtanāt / mānavā vipramucyante āpannāḥ pretayoniṣu

Translation

By constant listening and related devotional practices—through the meritorious hearing and recitation (of sacred teachings)—human beings who have fallen into the state of pretas are swiftly set free.

Word by Word

• सततम्: continually
• सततम्: Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative: continually)

• श्रवणात्: from hearing
• श्रवणात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from hearing’

• आद्यस्य: and the like (of it)
• आद्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of etc./and the like’ (elliptic with श्रवण)

• पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनात्: from meritorious hearing and chanting
• पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + श्रवण + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (श्रवण-कीर्तन) पूर्वपद-विशेषण ‘पुण्य’ (meritorious); अर्थ: ‘from meritorious hearing and chanting’

• मानवाः: people, humans
• मानवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विप्रमुच्यन्ते: are fully released
• विप्रमुच्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+प्र+मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: मुच्—‘to be released’, उपसर्ग: वि+प्र; अर्थ: ‘are completely freed’

• आपन्नाः: having fallen into, having entered
• आपन्नाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; धातु: पद्—‘to fall/come to’, उपसर्ग: आ; विशेषण (qualifies मानवाः): ‘having fallen into/entered’

• प्रेतयोनिषु: in preta-births/conditions
• प्रेतयोनिषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: प्रेतानां योनिः (state/womb of pretas)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya generated by śravaṇa and kīrtana (and allied practices) liberates beings fallen into preta-yoni.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/śabda as purifier: devotion-centered practice refines consciousness and loosens karmic knots; grace operates through disciplined hearing.

Application: Establish daily śravaṇa/paṭhana/kīrtana of purāṇic-dharmic teachings; sponsor recitation for departed relatives; keep continuity (satatam) rather than sporadic practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated praise of śravaṇa/paṭhana as preta-śānti and pāpa-kṣaya (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Humans (Manava)

FAQs

What is the importance of shravana and kirtana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sustained sacred hearing and recitation generate merit powerful enough to free beings even from the preta-condition, highlighting these practices as direct remedies for post-death distress.

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

It implies that a soul can fall into a preta-state due to adverse conditions/karma, and that spiritual merit accrued through sacred listening and chanting can alter that trajectory and grant release.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to and recite puranic/vedic teachings (especially in śrāddha contexts) with sincerity, dedicating the merit for the welfare and peace of departed relatives.