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Shloka 18

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा विकृतं घोरं विस्मितो बभ्रुवाहनः / प्रेतो ऽपि दृष्ट्वा तां घोरामटवीमागतं नृपम्

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vikṛtaṃ ghoraṃ vismito babhruvāhanaḥ / preto 'pi dṛṣṭvā tāṃ ghorāmaṭavīmāgataṃ nṛpam

Translation

അവനെ വികൃതനും ഭീകരനും ആയി കണ്ട ബഭ്രുവാഹനൻ വിസ്മയിച്ചു; ആ പ്രേതനും ആ ഭയങ്കര വനവും അതിലേക്കെത്തിയ രാജാവിനെയും കണ്ടപ്പോൾ ഭയവും അത്ഭുതവും നിറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word
तम्him/that one
तम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Root√दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (gerund/absolutive); अव्यय-प्रयोगः
विकृतम्deformed
विकृतम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तम्)
घोरम्terrible
घोरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तम्)
विस्मितःastonished
विस्मितः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + √स्मि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बभ्रुवाहनः)
बभ्रुवाहनःBabhruvāhana (proper name)
बभ्रुवाहनः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबभ्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बभ्रुः वाहनं यस्य)
प्रेतःthe ghost/spirit
प्रेतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Root√दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)
ताम्that (forest)
ताम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
घोराम्terrible
घोराम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अटवीम्)
अटवीम्forest
अटवीम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअटवी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
आगतम्arrived/come
आगतम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootआ + √गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नृपम्)
नृपम्the king
नृपम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनृप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
Speaker

Suta/Narrator (within the Purana’s narrative frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perception of terrifying forms prompts inquiry into causes (tattva-jijñāsā); appearances conceal deeper karmic histories.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguish appearance (nāma-rūpa) from underlying causality; cultivate discernment rather than mere reaction.

Application: When confronted with frightening or unfamiliar conditions, respond with inquiry and steadiness; seek causes and remedies rather than panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: forest/wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dialogues where a living interlocutor questions preta conditions (general parallel)

Characters & Entities
P
Preta
B
Babhruvāhana
N
Nṛpa (King)

FAQs

This verse highlights the preta as a conscious post-death condition marked by fear and disorientation; the Garuda Purana uses such scenes to stress the need for dharma and proper post-death rites that stabilize the departed.

By depicting a dreadful forest and a preta reacting to it, the verse points to the soul’s vulnerable journey through frightening, karma-shaped experiences before reaching a more settled state.

Live ethically to reduce fear-born karmic consequences, and support traditional śrāddha/pinda-dāna practices with sincerity to help the departed transition with greater peace.

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