Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

अरण्ये निर्जने देशे संकटे वृक्षवर्जिते / पञ्चैतान्विकृताकारान्दृष्ट्वा वै घोरदर्शनान् / ईषत्सन्त्रस्तहृदयो ऽतिष्ठदुन्मील्य लोचने

Transliteration

araṇye nirjane deśe saṃkaṭe vṛkṣavarjite / pañcaitānvikṛtākārāndṛṣṭvā vai ghoradarśanān / īṣatsantrastahṛdayo 'tiṣṭhadunmīlya locane

Translation

In a forest—lonely, perilous, and devoid of trees—having seen those five with distorted forms and terrifying appearance, his heart was slightly shaken with fear; he stood still, opening his eyes wide.

Word by Word

• अरण्ये: in a forest
• अरण्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निर्जने: deserted
• निर्जने: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'देशे'

• देशे: in a place
• देशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• संकटे: dangerous
• संकटे: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying 'देशे'

• वृक्षवर्जिते: devoid of trees
• वृक्षवर्जिते: Adhikarana (Location qualifier/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृक्षैः वर्जितः)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; adjective to 'एतान्'/'आकारान्'

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• विकृताकारान्: of distorted form
• विकृताकारान्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातु, क्त with वि-) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः = 'विकृताः आकाराः येषाम्' (having distorted forms)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

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

• घोरदर्शनान्: terrible-looking
• घोरदर्शनान्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः = 'घोरं दर्शनं येषाम्'

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सन्त्रस्तहृदयः: whose heart was frightened
• सन्त्रस्तहृदयः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्त्रस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; त्रस् धातु, क्त with सम्-) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = 'सन्त्रस्तं हृदयं यस्य'

• अतिष्ठत्: stood
• अतिष्ठत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उन्मील्य: having opened
• उन्मील्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + मील् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• लोचने: (his) two eyes
• लोचने: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Fear arises with perception of the grotesque/unknown; the mind’s first reaction is stambha (freeze), which must be observed and then transcended by discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Bhaya rooted in avidyā and identification with body-mind; witnessing fear without collapse is a step toward inner steadiness.

Application: Notice the body’s fear response (freeze, widened eyes) without being ruled by it; regain breath and clarity before acting or speaking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness/forest tract

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: vivid depictions of preta forms and terrifying environments (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of terrifying visions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the post-death path can involve fear-inducing encounters—symbolic of the soul/preta confronting the consequences of its condition and karma in desolate, perilous realms.

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

It portrays the traveler (preta/subtle being) moving through an isolated, dangerous landscape and encountering five frightening, deformed figures—suggesting obstacles and visions that arise during the transition toward Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and mental steadiness: fear and confusion are reduced by ethical living, remembrance of the divine, and (in tradition) proper antyeṣṭi and śrāddha observances for the departed.