Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा मद्यपसम्पर्कं मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम् / अज्ञानाद्भक्षयन्मांसं स प्रेतो जायते नरः

Transliteration

kṛtvā madyapasamparkaṃ madyapastrīniṣevaṇam / ajñānādbhakṣayanmāṃsaṃ sa preto jāyate naraḥ

Translation

A man who keeps the company of drunkards, consorts with the women of drunkards, and—out of ignorance—eats meat, is born as a preta, a restless departed spirit.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• मद्यपसम्पर्कम्: contact/association with a drunkard
• मद्यपसम्पर्कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्यप + सम्पर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मद्यपेन सह सम्पर्कः / मद्यपस्य सम्पर्कः)

• मद्यपस्त्रीनिṣevaṇम्: consorting with a drunkard’s wife
• मद्यपस्त्रीनिṣevaṇम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्यप + स्त्री + नि + सेव (धातु) → निषेवण (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मद्यपस्य स्त्री; तस्याः निषेवणम् = consorting with a drunkard's wife)

• अज्ञानात्: out of ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• भक्षयन्: eating
• भक्षयन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) → भक्षयत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सः)

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रेतः: a preta
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: is born/becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅga (company) and habitual conduct shape destiny; association with intoxication and ignorance-driven transgression leads to preta-bhava.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra formation through saṅga; tamas/rajas binding the jīva to lower states.

Application: Choose uplifting company; avoid substance abuse environments; cultivate clarity (sattva) and informed dietary/ethical choices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: preta-hetu lists including madya, māṃsa, and duṣsaṅga (Pretakalpa context)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse treats becoming a preta as a karmic consequence of harmful associations and indulgent conduct, highlighting that post-death conditions reflect one’s ethical and behavioral choices.

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

It indicates that certain actions and associations can lead to an unsettled post-death condition—preta-bhāva—rather than a smooth transition, implying obstruction and restlessness in the departed state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose uplifting company, avoid intoxication-linked environments and exploitation, and practice mindful, ethical consumption—since habits and associations are treated as spiritually consequential.