Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

बहून्यब्दानि विजने वने तस्य गतानि वै / तस्य बुद्धिस्ततो जाता तीर्थानुगमनं प्रति

Transliteration

bahūnyabdāni vijane vane tasya gatāni vai / tasya buddhistato jātā tīrthānugamanaṃ prati

Translation

അവന് നിർജന വനത്തിൽ അനേകം വർഷങ്ങൾ കഴിഞ്ഞുപോയി; പിന്നെ അവന്റെ ബുദ്ധി ഉണർന്നു, തീർത്ഥാനുഗമനം—അഥവാ തീർത്ഥയാത്ര—വഴിയിലേക്ക് തിരിഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘अब्दानि’ इति विशेषणम्

• अब्दानि: years
• अब्दानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विजने: in a solitary (place)
• विजने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘वने’ इति विशेषणम्

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• गतानि: passed (gone by)
• गतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त; ‘अब्दानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: understanding/intention
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — अपादान/क्रमवाचक: “thereupon/from that”

• जाता: arose/was born
• जाता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘बुद्धिः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम् (became/arose)

• तीर्थानुगमनम्: going on pilgrimage (following sacred places)
• तीर्थानुगमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगमन (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् धातु, अनु-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थानाम् अनुगमनम्)

• प्रति: towards/for
• प्रति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/पूर्वसर्ग (preposition) — ‘towards/with regard to’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Extended solitude matures the intellect; awakened discernment naturally turns toward tīrtha-yātrā as a means of purification, perspective, and spiritual momentum.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka arising from tapas; external pilgrimage as support for internal pilgrimage toward the Self.

Application: Create periods of intentional solitude/retreat; after inner stabilization, undertake purposeful pilgrimages (or ‘modern tīrthas’ like retreats/temples) with vows of simplicity, study, and service rather than tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest and pilgrimage sites (tīrtha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.22.26 (yoga-abhyasa and moksha-kanksha as the inner engine of this turn)

Characters & Entities

• Tirthas
• Forest hermitage (vana)

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames pilgrimage as a dharmic turning-point: after long solitude, the mind becomes oriented toward sacred tīrthas as a means of purification and spiritual realignment.

How does this verse explain inner transformation in the narrative?

It shows a progression—time in seclusion matures the person, and then buddhi (discernment) arises, directing him toward a higher, purifying course of action: tīrtha-anugamana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Periods of isolation or hardship can be used to cultivate discernment; when clarity arises, choose concrete dharmic actions—pilgrimage, charity, vows, or disciplined practice—that redirect life toward purification and meaning.