Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

दर्शनेन च ते ब्रह्मन्मुदिताप्यायिता वयम् / मुहूर्तन्तिष्ठ वक्ष्यामि वृत्तान्तं सर्वमादितः

Transliteration

darśanena ca te brahmanmuditāpyāyitā vayam / muhūrtantiṣṭha vakṣyāmi vṛttāntaṃ sarvamāditaḥ

Translation

O Brahman, by seeing you we have become joyful and refreshed. Stay here for a moment; I shall tell you the entire account from the beginning.

Word by Word

• दर्शनेन: by (your) sight
• दर्शनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• मुदिताप्यायिताः: gladdened and refreshed
• मुदिताप्यायिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित + आप्यायित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—मुदिताश्च आप्यायिताश्च इति द्वन्द्व; विशेषणम् (वयम्)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणे द्वितीया (accusative of duration)

• तिष्ठ: stay/stand
• तिष्ठ: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वृत्तान्तम्: account/narrative
• वृत्तान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वृत्तान्तम्)

• आदितः: from the beginning
• आदितः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

A narrator/interlocutor addressing a revered Brahman (contextual speaker within the dialogue frame; not explicitly identified in this single verse)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satpuruṣa-darśana brings āpyāyana (refreshment) even to afflicted beings; attentive listening precedes transformative knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Satsaṅga as a purifier; proximity to dharma/śruti-smṛti carriers calms the mind and opens the way to right understanding.

Application: Seek satsaṅga and guidance; offer presence and counsel to the distressed; create pauses for attentive listening before judging.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: encounter site/threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative frames where pretas speak upon meeting a righteous person; darśana as temporary relief (motif)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (addressed)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana?

It functions as a narrative transition: the speaker welcomes the revered listener and announces an orderly explanation “from the beginning,” signaling a structured teaching sequence.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

While it does not describe the afterlife directly, it sets up the forthcoming account—typical of the Preta Kanda—where the post-death journey, rites, and consequences are explained in a stepwise manner.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred teachings with attentiveness and patience—listen fully “from the beginning,” and value the uplifting effect of satsanga (meeting the wise) before acting on ritual or ethical guidance.