Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण उवाच / उपवासपरो नित्यं कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणे रतः / व्रतैश्च विविधैः पूतो न प्रेतो जायते नरः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca / upavāsaparo nityaṃ kṛcchracāndrāyaṇe rataḥ / vrataiśca vividhaiḥ pūto na preto jāyate naraḥ

Translation

The Brāhmaṇa said: A man ever devoted to fasting, engaged in the austerities of Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa, and purified by various sacred vows—does not become a preta.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: the brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• उपवासपरः: devoted to fasting
• उपवासपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवास-पर (प्रातिपदिक; उपवास + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (उपवासे परः = devoted to fasting)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (always)

• कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणे: in the kṛcchra and cāndrāyaṇa (penances)
• कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र-चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक; कृच्छ्र + चान्द्रायण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; द्वन्द्वः (कृच्छ्रं च चान्द्रायणं च)

• रतः: engaged, devoted
• रतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (कृदन्त; धातु √रम्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (engaged)

• व्रतैः: by vows
• व्रतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

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

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (various)

• पूतः: purified
• पूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत (कृदन्त; धातु √पू, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (purified)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• प्रेतः: a preta
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• जायते: is born, becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa (a learned interlocutor within the narrative)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regular fasting and expiatory austerities purify and prevent preta-birth.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi through tapas; karma is refined by disciplined restraint.

Application: Adopt periodic fasting and regulated vows under guidance; use prayaschitta-like observances to cleanse lapses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: prescriptions of vrata/tapas to avert preta condition (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of fasting and vratas in the Garuda Purana regarding the preta state?

This verse states that sustained fasting and observance of purificatory vratas (including Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa) purify a person so that they do not fall into the preta condition after death.

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

It links ethical-ritual purification in life with a favorable post-death outcome: disciplined penance helps prevent an unsettled, preta-like after-death state, implying smoother transition in the afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt regular self-discipline—periodic fasting, sincere vows, and repentance-based practices—aimed at inner purification and ethical living, rather than mere ritual display.