Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण उवाच / ये जीवा भुवि जीवन्ति सर्वे ऽप्याहारमूलकाः / युष्माकमपिचाहारं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca / ye jīvā bhuvi jīvanti sarve 'pyāhāramūlakāḥ / yuṣmākamapicāhāraṃ śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ

Translation

The Brāhmaṇa said: All beings who live upon the earth are sustained by food as their very basis. Therefore, I too wish to hear—truthfully and in principle—about your (proper) food.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: the brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उवाच इति कर्ता)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम)

• जीवाः: living beings
• जीवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• जीवन्ति: live
• जीवन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अपि: indeed/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक-अव्यय (also/indeed)

• आहारमूलकाः: dependent on food; rooted in food
• आहारमूलकाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक) + मूलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: आहारमूलक = आहारः मूलम् यस्य (having food as the root/basis)

• युष्माकम्: of you (pl.)
• युष्माकम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक-अव्यय (also)

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

• आहारम्: food
• आहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), अर्थ: 'to hear'

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्त्वतः: truly; in essence
• तत्त्वतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): तत्त्वतः = in truth/from the reality

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa (a questioning sage/priest figure within the narrative)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āhāra is foundational for embodied beings; understanding proper sustenance/offering is part of right order.

Vedantic Theme: Dependence of the body-mind complex on food (annamaya); inquiry into subtle sustenance hints at gradations of embodiment.

Application: Reflect on diet and offering: maintain purity of food, and learn correct śrāddha-related provisions for the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: terrestrial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: forthcoming exposition on preta-āhāra and śrāddha offerings; Pretakalpa passages linking pinda/water offerings to preta satisfaction

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Jīvas (living beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of āhāra (food) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that all embodied beings on earth are fundamentally sustained by food, making āhāra a primary topic for understanding life, conduct, and related ritual considerations.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife teachings?

In the Preta Kanda, discussions often link sustenance and offerings to the condition of beings; this question sets up a doctrinal explanation of what constitutes proper “food” or support in a given context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat diet as a dharmic foundation—choose food mindfully, ethically, and in ways that support clarity, health, and disciplined living.