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Shloka 57

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

तावन्मात्रोदके देशे मया हुङ्कृत्य वारितः / मयाथ सकलं पीतं जलं पात्रात्तृषावता

Transliteration

tāvanmātrodake deśe mayā huṅkṛtya vāritaḥ / mayātha sakalaṃ pītaṃ jalaṃ pātrāttṛṣāvatā

Translation

അല്പം മാത്രം വെള്ളമുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ആ സ്ഥലത്ത്, ഞാൻ ഒച്ചയുണ്ടാക്കി അവനെ തടഞ്ഞു; ദാഹിച്ചവശനായ ഞാൻ പാത്രത്തിലെ വെള്ളം മുഴുവൻ കുടിച്ചുതീർത്തു.

Word by Word
तावन्मात्रोदकेin a place with only that much water
तावन्मात्रोदके:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootतावत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तावन्मात्रम् उदकम् यस्मिन्)
देशेin the place
देशे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
मयाby me
मया:
Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
हुङ्कृत्यhaving shouted (huṅ)
हुङ्कृत्य:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहुङ्कृ (धातु; ध्वन्यर्थक)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having uttered “huṅ”/having shouted’
वारितःwas stopped/prevented
वारितः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवारि (धातु √वृ/वारय् caus.) + वारित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘was prevented’
मयाby me
मया:
Karana (Agent/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
अथthen
अथ:
Discourse (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle)
सकलम्all/entire
सकलम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसकल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जलम् इति)
पीतम्was drunk
पीतम्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपा (धातु) + पीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘drunk’
जलम्water
जलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootजल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन
पात्रात्from the vessel
पात्रात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootपात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन
तृषावताby the thirsty one
तृषावता:
Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootतृषा (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (वत्) ‘possessed of thirst’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In scarcity, selfish appropriation and intimidation magnify papa; intention (bhava) and harm to others shape karmic fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is driven by raga-dvesha; thirst becomes a metaphor for uncontrolled desire consuming shared resources.

Application: Practice restraint and sharing in scarcity; prioritize the vulnerable; cultivate self-control over impulses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: small water spot / roadside

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: thirst as recurring consequence for certain sins (general motif)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda
P
Preta

FAQs

This verse highlights how even a small amount of water becomes crucial in the preta-state; deprivation and intense thirst are depicted as real sufferings, implying the ritual-ethical importance of providing water/offerings for the departed.

It portrays the preta’s journey as marked by scarcity and torment such as thirst, where access to basic relief (like water) can be blocked—reflecting karmic hardship and the dependence on proper rites and merit.

Practice compassion and generosity—especially giving water/food—and, when appropriate, perform or support traditional offerings for ancestors/departed (udaka-dāna, śrāddha) with sincerity.

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