Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

प्रेतराज उवाच / मया स्वादु सदा भुक्तं दत्तं पर्युषितं द्विज

Transliteration

pretarāja uvāca / mayā svādu sadā bhuktaṃ dattaṃ paryuṣitaṃ dvija

Translation

The Lord of the departed said: “O twice-born, whatever is given after I have already eaten what is sweet and long enjoyed—whatever is offered as food kept overnight, as stale—such a gift is spoken of in this way.”

Word by Word

• प्रेतराजः: King of the pretas
• प्रेतराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + राज (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रेतानां राजा’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्वादु: tasty (food)
• स्वादु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भुक्तम्/दत्तम्/पर्युषितम् इत्येतैः सह कर्मपद-विशेषणम्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• भुक्तम्: eaten
• भुक्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘eaten’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘given’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• पर्युषितम्: stale/kept overnight
• पर्युषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि+उष् (धातु) → पर्युषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘kept overnight/stale’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (स्वादु/भुक्तम्/दत्तम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

Speaker

Pretaraja (Yama, Lord of the departed)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna is judged by purity, timing, and intention; offering ‘paryuṣita’ (stale/after-enjoyment) is a dharmic lapse with afterlife consequence.

Vedantic Theme: Karma hinges on bhava (inner disposition) as much as dravya (substance); tamasic giving binds.

Application: Give promptly and respectfully before self-indulgence; offer fresh, suitable food/resources with humility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: upadesha (instruction)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna and śrāddha purity rules; Pretakalpa linking specific faults to preta-names (2.22 sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Pretaraja
• Yama
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding paryuṣita (stale) offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames “paryuṣita” as ritually inferior—offerings made as leftovers or after one’s own enjoyment are treated as improper, undermining the intended merit of dāna/ritual giving.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey and Yama’s judgment?

In the Preta Kanda context, Yama’s speech sets standards for what counts as valid support through offerings; negligent or impure giving is implied to yield diminished spiritual benefit when the departed is assessed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give first and give fresh: offer charity/food with cleanliness and sincerity, not as leftovers—especially in memorial rites (śrāddha) or devotional offerings.