Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा मायामयं रूपं विचरामो महीतले / सर्वे च विकृताकारा लम्बोष्ठा विकृताननाः

Transliteration

kṛtvā māyāmayaṃ rūpaṃ vicarāmo mahītale / sarve ca vikṛtākārā lamboṣṭhā vikṛtānanāḥ

Translation

Assuming illusory forms, we wander upon the earth; all of us appear distorted—our lips hanging and our faces disfigured.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), धातु: कृ; पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having done)

• मायामयम्: illusory; made of māyā
• मायामयम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समास: मायामय = मायया मयम् (made of/consisting of illusion)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• विचरामः: we roam/wander
• विचरामः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महीतले: on the earth’s surface
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समास: महीतल = मह्याः तलम् (surface of the earth)

• सर्वे: all (of us)
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विकृताकारा: having distorted forms
• विकृताकारा: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु) → विकृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: विकृतः आकारः येषां ते (those whose form is distorted)

• लम्बोष्ठाः: with pendulous lips
• लम्बोष्ठाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: लम्बौ ओष्ठौ येषां ते (those with hanging lips)

• विकृताननाः: with deformed faces
• विकृताननाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु) → विकृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: विकृतम् आननं येषां ते (those with distorted faces)

Speaker

Preta (restless departed spirit), as quoted in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Subtle beings assume illusory forms; distorted embodiment signals karmic residue and unsettled post-death condition.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā and nāma-rūpa: forms are assumed/constructed; suffering adheres to upādhi rather than the Self.

Application: Cultivate ethical living and timely rites so the departed do not remain in restless, distorted states; practice discernment about appearances and fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: terrestrial plane/ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta-yoni, wandering and illusory forms; sections on preta-lakṣaṇa and bhūta-preta doṣa; Garuda Purana: śrāddha/pinda efficacy to relieve preta wandering

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Garuda
• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'preta' state in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the preta condition as a restless, afflicted post-death state marked by illusory embodiment and visible distortion—signaling unresolved karmic/ritual incompletion and suffering.

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

It depicts a phase where the departed, lacking stable transition, roams the earthly realm in māyā-made forms—showing that the journey is not automatically peaceful and can involve wandering and impairment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform timely śrāddha and related rites with ethical living and charity, aiming to support a smooth transition for the departed and reduce causes of restless, harmful post-death states.