Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

सूचिता बहवो ऽनेन विप्रा अन्नाधिकाङ्क्षया / एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य एष सूचिमुखः स्मृतः

Transliteration

sūcitā bahavo 'nena viprā annādhikāṅkṣayā / etatkāraṇamuddiśya eṣa sūcimukhaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

By this fault, many Brahmins have been denounced, driven by excessive craving for food. Pointing to this very cause, this hell is remembered as “Sūcīmukha” (Needle-faced).

Word by Word

• sūcitāḥ: (were) indicated/pointed out
• sūcitāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūcita (कृदन्त; √sūc (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); kta-participle used adjectivally

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying viprāḥ

• anena: by this (one/means)
• anena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka (Masculine/Neuter), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• viprāḥ: Brahmins
• viprāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• annādhikāṅkṣayā: due to excessive desire for food
• annādhikāṅkṣayā: Hetu/Kāraṇa (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna + adhika + āṅkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; samāsa: annādhikāṅkṣā = annasya adhikā āṅkṣā (greater desire for food)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; qualifying kāraṇam

• kāraṇam: cause/reason
• kāraṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• uddiśya: having pointed out/with reference to
• uddiśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uddiśya (अव्यय; √diś (धातु) + ud- + ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund/ल्यपन्त), avyaya; sense: ‘having indicated/with reference to’

• eṣaḥ: this one
• eṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• sūcimukhaḥ: Sūcimukha (needle-faced)
• sūcimukhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūci + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; samāsa: sūcyā iva mukhaṃ yasya / sūci-mukha (needle-faced)

• smṛtaḥ: is said/called
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛta (कृदन्त; √smṛ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; kta-participle used predicatively (passive sense): ‘is called/considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Excessive craving for food and selfish consumption leads to specific karmic retribution in naraka.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the binding power of rāga (attachment) to sense-objects (viṣaya).

Application: Practice moderation in eating, share food, and restrain anna-lobha; cultivate dāna and hospitality, especially toward the deserving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: naraka-catalogues linking specific pāpa to named hells (contextual continuity with adjacent verses 2.22.44–47)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Vipras (Brahmins)
• Naraka (Sūcīmukha)

FAQs

What is the importance of Sūcīmukha in Garuda Purana?

This verse links the name ‘Sūcīmukha’ to a specific karmic cause—being censured for food-driven misconduct—showing how Garuda Purana assigns precise moral causes to particular narakas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that specific cravings and unethical behavior (here, excessive food-desire leading to blameworthy conduct) shape post-death experience, directing the soul toward corresponding punishment-realms described in Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and integrity regarding food and hospitality, avoid greed-driven compromise of dharma, and cultivate disciplined consumption (mitāhāra) and ethical conduct.