Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन्दिवसे विप्रो मार्गभ्रष्टो महातपाः / ददर्शाध्वनि गच्छन्स पञ्च प्रेतान् सुदारुणान्

Transliteration

ekasmindivase vipro mārgabhraṣṭo mahātapāḥ / dadarśādhvani gacchansa pañca pretān sudāruṇān

Translation

One day, a brāhmaṇa—great in austerity—having lost his way, saw on the road as he walked five exceedingly dreadful pretas (restless spirits).

Word by Word

• एकस्मिन्: on one
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used with 'दिवसे' = 'on one'

• दिवसे: day
• दिवसे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (काल/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विप्रः: a brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मार्गभ्रष्टः: lost from the path
• मार्गभ्रष्टः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; भ्रंश् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मार्गात् भ्रष्टः)

• महातपाः: a great ascetic
• महातपाः: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः = 'महान् तपाः/तपस्वी'

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अध्वनि: on the road
• अध्वनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; present participle qualifying subject

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; here used as adjective to 'प्रेतान्' (indeclinable-like usage)

• प्रेतान्: ghosts/spirits
• प्रेतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• सुदारुणान्: very dreadful
• सुदारुणान्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'प्रेतान्'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic consequences can manifest as preta-state; even a tapasvī may witness them when circumstances (being lost/liminal) open perception.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as a field of cause-effect; unseen adṛṣṭa (karmic residue) shaping experience; compassion and inquiry as responses to suffering.

Application: Treat encounters with suffering (mental/physical/social) as prompts for ethical inquiry and compassionate help rather than superstition or panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: adhvan/mārga

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta condition and causes (general internal thematic link); Garuda Purana: Yama’s messengers and post-death journey motifs (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'preta' state in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces pretas as frightening beings encountered on the path, highlighting the Garuda Purana theme that the post-death intermediate state can be troubled and requires dharmic preparation and proper rites.

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

By placing the brāhmaṇa on a road where pretas are seen, the text frames the after-death journey as a real 'path' with encounters—suggesting an intermediate realm where beings in the preta-condition wander and appear dreadful.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma and support appropriate ancestral rites (e.g., śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna where traditional) so the departed are not imagined as left in a restless preta-state; also cultivate compassion rather than fear toward suffering beings.