Shloka 6

Preta-Mokṣa Upāya: Svapna-Lakṣaṇa, Pitṛ-Doṣa, and Prescribed Rites

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

विप्रो वा वृषभो देवो भ्रमते तीर्थगो यदि / एवं दृष्टो यदा स्वप्नो मृतः को ऽपिस्वगोत्रजः

Transliteration

vipro vā vṛṣabho devo bhramate tīrthago yadi / evaṃ dṛṣṭo yadā svapno mṛtaḥ ko 'pisvagotrajaḥ

Translation

തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ ഇരിക്കുമ്പോൾ സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണനെയോ കാളയെയോ ദേവനെയോ അലഞ്ഞുനടക്കുന്നതായി കണ്ടാൽ, അത്തരമൊരു സ്വപ്നം വന്നാൽ സ്വന്തം ഗോത്രത്തിലെ ആരോ ഒരാൾ മരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• वृषभः: a bull
• वृषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवः: a god/divine being
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भ्रमते: wanders
• भ्रमते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तीर्थगः: at/going to a sacred ford
• तीर्थगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (धातु 'गम्' से)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: तीर्थे गः = 'gone to/at a pilgrimage place'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies the subject

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional: if)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/in this way)

• दृष्टः: seen
• दृष्टः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies 'स्वप्नः' (dream seen)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (when)

• स्वप्नः: dream
• स्वप्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मृतः: dead
• मृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'dead' (qualifies implied person/relative)

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• स्वगोत्रजः: one of one’s own clan/kinsman
• स्वगोत्रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (धातु 'जन्' से)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य गोत्रस्य जः = 'born in one's own lineage'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta (omens) indicate impending karmic events such as death in one’s gotra; sacred contexts intensify perceived sign-value.

Vedantic Theme: Phenomenal signs belong to vyavahāra (practical reality); wise response is dharmic preparedness rather than panic.

Application: If ominous signs arise, respond with composure: inform family, ensure health/safety, and perform protective/ancestral rites as appropriate within one’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage site/river ford

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: svapna-nimitta lists connected to death, preta-affliction, and remedial rites in surrounding chapters.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vipra (Brahmin)

FAQs

What is the importance of dream-omens (svapna-nimitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain dream-visions—especially involving sacred contexts like a tīrtha and revered figures (vipra, bull, deity)—as indicators of impending death within one’s own gotra, prompting timely spiritual and ritual preparedness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By warning of imminent death in one’s lineage through dream signs, it implicitly urges readiness for the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda—ensuring proper rites and dharmic conduct so the departing soul is supported.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat disturbing or highly symbolic dreams as a reminder to strengthen dharma: reconcile with family, increase prayer/charity, and—if tradition is followed—consult elders/priests about appropriate protective rites rather than reacting with panic.