Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

पुण्यैस्तीर्थजलैरेव शोषयिष्ये कलेवरम् / स तीर्थेत्वरितं स्नात्वा तपस्वी भास्करोदये / कृतजाप्यनमस्कारो ह्यध्वानं प्रत्यपद्यत

Transliteration

puṇyaistīrthajalaireva śoṣayiṣye kalevaram / sa tīrthetvaritaṃ snātvā tapasvī bhāskarodaye / kṛtajāpyanamaskāro hyadhvānaṃ pratyapadyata

Translation

“With the meritorious waters of the sacred tīrthas alone shall I dry up (wear away) this bodily frame.” Having quickly bathed at the tīrtha at sunrise, the ascetic—after completing his japa and reverent namaskāras—set forth upon his journey.

Word by Word

• पुण्यैः: with holy (meritorious)
• पुण्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; adjective used instrumentally = 'with/by holy (things)'

• तीर्थजलैः: with pilgrimage-waters
• तीर्थजलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थस्य जलम्)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शोषयिष्ये: I shall dry up
• शोषयिष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद/आत्मनेपद-रूप: आत्मनेपद (शोषयिष्ये)

• कलेवरम्: the body
• कलेवरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलेवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• तीर्थे: at the sacred ford
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• त्वरितम्: quickly
• त्वरितम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; त्वृ/त्वर् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used adverbially = 'quickly/in haste'

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तपस्वी: the ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भास्करोदये: at sunrise
• भास्करोदये: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (काल/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भास्करस्य उदयः)

• कृतजाप्यनमस्कारः: having done japa and salutations
• कृतजाप्यनमस्कारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + जाप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'कृतं जाप्यं च नमस्कारश्च येन' (one who has performed muttering and salutation)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (explanatory/emphatic particle)

• अध्वानम्: the road/journey
• अध्वानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रत्यपद्यत: set out/entered upon
• प्रत्यपद्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas supported by tīrtha-snāna, japa, and namaskāra; disciplined daily rites as preparation for righteous action and pilgrimage.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as a prerequisite for higher knowledge/bhakti; body treated as transient instrument.

Application: Begin undertakings with morning purification, mantra-japa, and reverence; cultivate restraint and simplicity to reduce bodily attachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/river-ford

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on śauca, snāna, japa as supports for post-death welfare and dharmic living (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Bhaskara (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-snāna (bathing at a sacred place) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats tīrtha-water as a powerful source of puṇya (merit) that supports purification and austerity, helping one reduce bodily attachment and proceed on a disciplined spiritual path.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or the spiritual journey?

It presents a model of readiness: sunrise bath, japa, and namaskāra precede “setting out,” symbolizing that inner purification and devotional discipline are the proper preparation for any onward journey—especially the post-death journey emphasized in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin important undertakings with purity and intention: maintain cleanliness, do a brief daily japa/prayer, offer respectful salutations, and act from dharma rather than impulse.