Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

प्रेतत्वं कर्मभावेन प्राप्तं नामानि च द्विज / मेषाननो लेखको ऽयं रोध (ह) कः पर्वताननः

Transliteration

pretatvaṃ karmabhāvena prāptaṃ nāmāni ca dvija / meṣānano lekhako 'yaṃ rodha (ha) kaḥ parvatānanaḥ

Translation

O twice-born one, the state of being a preta is attained according to one’s karmic disposition, and accordingly various names are assigned. (Some are called) “Ram-faced”; this one is “Lekhaka,” the scribe; (others are known as) “Rodha/Ha” and “Mountain-faced.”

Word by Word

• pretatvam: the state of being a preta
• pretatvam: Karma/Prāpyam (Result/प्राप्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; abstract noun ‘state of a preta’

• karmabhāvena: due to karmic disposition
• karmabhāvena: Hetu/Kāraṇa (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; samāsa: karmaṇaḥ bhāvaḥ (due to the nature of deeds)

• prāptam: attained
• prāptam: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; √āp (धातु) + pra- + क्त)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; kta-participle predicative: ‘has been obtained/attained’ (agreeing with pretatvam)

• nāmāni: names
• nāmāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• meṣānanaḥ: Meṣānana (ram-faced)
• meṣānanaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meṣa + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; samāsa: meṣasya ānanaṃ yasya (ram-faced)

• lekhakaḥ: Lekhaka
• lekhakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lekhaka (प्रातिपदिक; √likh + ण्वुल्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

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

• rodhakaḥ: Rodhaka
• rodhakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rodhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• parvatānanaḥ: Parvatānana (mountain-faced)
• parvatānanaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; samāsa: parvatasya ānanaṃ yasya (mountain-faced)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-hood and its specific forms/names arise from one’s karmic disposition (karma-bhāva).

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra-driven nāma-rūpa; the jīva’s experiential body (bhoga-śarīra) conforms to karma.

Application: Cultivate wholesome dispositions and actions; recognize that character (bhāva) is karmically formative, not merely external behavior.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: intermediate after-death condition

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: continuation of preta-name typology (links to 2.22.45 and 2.22.47)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Karma

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic classification of the preta in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the preta-condition and even the labels/forms assigned to the departed are determined by karmic disposition, emphasizing that post-death experience follows moral causality.

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

It suggests that after death the being may be categorized into specific preta-types—some linked to functions like ‘scribe’—indicating an ordered, karma-based system governing the intermediate state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and perform duties conscientiously, remembering that actions shape one’s subtle post-death condition; support dharmic conduct and appropriate śrāddha/rites with sincerity.