Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

श्रूयते हि पुरा वत्स ब्राह्मणः शंसितव्रतः / नाम्ना सन्तप्तकः ख्यात स्तपोर्ऽथे वनमाश्रितः

Transliteration

śrūyate hi purā vatsa brāhmaṇaḥ śaṃsitavrataḥ / nāmnā santaptakaḥ khyāta stapor'the vanamāśritaḥ

Translation

ಹೇ ವತ್ಸ, ಪುರಾತನ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನಿದ್ದನೆಂದು ಕೇಳಿಬರುತ್ತದೆ; ಅವನ ವ್ರತಾಚರಣೆ ಪ್ರಶಂಸಿತವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅವನು ‘ಸಂತಪ್ತಕ’ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದ ಖ್ಯಾತನಾಗಿದ್ದು, ತಪಸ್ಸಿನ ನಿಮಿತ್ತ ಅರಣ್ಯವನ್ನು ಆಶ್ರಯಿಸಿದ್ದನು.

Word by Word

• श्रूयते: it is heard/it is said
• श्रूयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is heard/is said’

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: formerly)

• वत्स: O child/dear one
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शंसितव्रतः: of praised vows, commendable in vows
• शंसितव्रतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: शंसित (praised/commended) + व्रत (vow); विशेषण (qualifies ब्राह्मणः)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by name’

• सन्तप्तकः: Santaptaka (name)
• सन्तप्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तप्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• ख्यातः: renowned, known
• ख्यातः: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातु: ख्या—‘to be known’; विशेषण/विधेय: ‘renowned/known’

• तपः: of austerity
• तपः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण); ‘of austerity’

• अर्थे: for the purpose
• अर्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘for the sake/purpose’ (locative of purpose)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge in/resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातु: श्रि—‘to resort’, उपसर्ग: आ; विशेषण (qualifies ब्राह्मणः): ‘having resorted to’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas and vrata as formative disciplines; the narrative signals that conduct (vrata) and austerity (tapas) shape destiny and spiritual potency.

Vedantic Theme: Self-restraint (tapas) purifies the mind and strengthens sattva, enabling higher discernment and spiritual progress.

Application: Adopt measured austerities (fasting, simplicity, truthfulness) under guidance; create ‘forest-like’ simplicity periodically (retreat, reduced consumption) to deepen practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/ashrama-wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: use of purātana-itihāsa exempla to teach karma/dharma outcomes (general narrative technique)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Santaptaka)

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas (austerity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a renowned Brahmin who undertakes forest-austerity, signaling tapas as a disciplined means to refine conduct and strengthen dharma—often a narrative setup for later teachings on karma and its results.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it begins a traditional account centered on a virtuous practitioner, commonly used in the Preta Kanda to illustrate how choices (vows, discipline, actions) shape post-death outcomes described later in the dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a consistent vow of ethical restraint and disciplined practice (e.g., truthfulness, moderation, regular prayer/meditation), remembering that sustained conduct—not mere intention—forms one’s karmic trajectory.