Shloka 13

Preta-lakṣaṇa and Svapna-nimitta: Dream Portents of Preta-affliction and the Prescribed Remedies

Devanagari script

चिह्नान्येतानि पक्षीन्द्र प्रायश्चित्तं निवेदयेत् / कृत्वा स्नानं गृहे तीर्थे श्रीवृक्षे तर्पणं जलैः

Transliteration

cihnānyetāni pakṣīndra prāyaścittaṃ nivedayet / kṛtvā snānaṃ gṛhe tīrthe śrīvṛkṣe tarpaṇaṃ jalaiḥ

Translation

ഇവയാണ് ലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ, ഹേ പക്ഷീന്ദ്രാ; അപ്പോൾ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. വീട്ടിലോ തീർത്ഥത്തിലോ സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത്, ശ്രീവൃക്ഷത്തിനരികെ ജലത്താൽ തർപ്പണം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• cihnāni: signs
• cihnāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cihna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (एतद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (these)

• pakṣīndra: O lord of birds
• pakṣīndra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• prāyaścittaṃ: expiation
• prāyaścittaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• nivedayet: should prescribe/declare
• nivedayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (नि-विद्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having done’

• snānaṃ: bath
• snānaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• gṛhe: at home
• gṛhe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• tīrthe: at a sacred place
• tīrthe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• śrī-vṛkṣe: at the sacred tree
• śrī-vṛkṣe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् वृष्क्षः/श्रीवृक्षः = sacred/auspicious tree)

• tarpaṇaṃ: libation/oblatory offering
• tarpaṇaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• jalaiḥ: with water
• jalaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When preta-signs appear, one should undertake prāyaścitta: purification by स्नान and propitiation by tarpaṇa (water-libations) at an auspicious sacred tree.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a harmonizing force: ritual purity and offerings mitigate subtle disturbances and re-align the individual with ṛta/dharma.

Application: Perform a structured response: cleanse (snāna), then offer tarpaṇa with proper intention/mantras at an auspicious spot (home shrine/tīrtha/tree), ideally under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: home or sacred ford; sacred tree-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.23.14 (dāna, homa, recitation); Garuda Purana śrāddha/tarpaṇa instructions in Pretakalpa-related passages

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames prāyaścitta as the proper response after recognizing certain ‘signs’ (cihnāni), emphasizing ritual purification and corrective action to restore dharmic balance.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, purification (snāna) and tarpaṇa are portrayed as supportive rites that reduce obstacles and aid the departed through Pitṛ-related obligations, which the text links to post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When facing ritual impurity or anxiety about omens, prioritize ethical correction, a purifying bath, and (where appropriate in one’s tradition) simple water-offerings with remembrance of ancestors, guided by a qualified priest or family custom.