Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

गोचरं ग्रामसीमां तडागारामगह्वरम् / कर्षयन्ति च ये लोभात्प्रेतास्ते वै भवन्ति हि

Transliteration

gocaraṃ grāmasīmāṃ taḍāgārāmagahvaram / karṣayanti ca ye lobhātpretāste vai bhavanti hi

Translation

Those who, out of greed, encroach upon and seize cattle-grazing grounds, village boundary lands, ponds, gardens, and ravines—such people indeed become pretas after death.

Word by Word

• गोचरम्: pasture-land
• गोचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ग्रामसीमाम्: village boundary
• ग्रामसीमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम + सीमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तडागारामगह्वरम्: ponds, gardens, and ravines (as a collective tract)
• तडागारामगह्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग + आराम + गह्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• कर्षयन्ति: plough/cultivate
• कर्षयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• लोभात्: out of greed
• लोभात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause)

• प्रेताः: pretas
• प्रेताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ

• भवन्ति: become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: certainly/for
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lobha-driven encroachment on commons and boundary lands is adharma leading to preta-bhāva after death.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma born of rāga-lobha binds the jīva; harm to many beings magnifies karmic burden.

Application: Respect property lines and commons; support fair land governance; avoid exploitative acquisition; practice reparations and community stewardship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: commons and boundary lands

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: adharma of theft/encroachment and its afterlife results (general internal resonance); Garuda Purana: teachings on dāna and protection of cows/commons (conceptual linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of condemning land encroachment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats public and community resources—pasture, boundary land, ponds, gardens—as protected by dharma; greed-driven seizure is framed as a grave adharma that ripens into an afflicted post-death condition (preta-hood).

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

It links a specific unethical act (encroaching on communal lands/resources) with a specific post-mortem outcome: becoming a preta, a restless intermediate state marked by suffering due to unresolved karmic debt.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid greed-based appropriation of shared or protected spaces (commons, water bodies, boundary lands); practice fair ownership, restitution, and community-minded stewardship to align conduct with dharma.