Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

श्रूयते हि पुरा वत्स ब्राह्मणः शंसितव्रतः / नाम्ना सन्तप्तकः ख्यात स्तपोर्ऽथे वनमाश्रितः

Transliteration

śrūyate hi purā vatsa brāhmaṇaḥ śaṃsitavrataḥ / nāmnā santaptakaḥ khyāta stapor'the vanamāśritaḥ

Translation

ହେ ବତ୍ସ, ପୁରାତନ କାଳରୁ ଶୁଣାଯାଏ ଯେ ଏକ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ଥିଲେ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ବ୍ରତ ଶଂସିତ ଥିଲା। ସେ ‘ସନ୍ତପ୍ତକ’ ନାମରେ ଖ୍ୟାତ ଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ତପସ୍ୟା ପାଇଁ ବନକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରିଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• श्रूयते: it is heard/it is said
• श्रूयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is heard/is said’

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: formerly)

• वत्स: O child/dear one
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शंसितव्रतः: of praised vows, commendable in vows
• शंसितव्रतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: शंसित (praised/commended) + व्रत (vow); विशेषण (qualifies ब्राह्मणः)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by name’

• सन्तप्तकः: Santaptaka (name)
• सन्तप्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तप्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• ख्यातः: renowned, known
• ख्यातः: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातु: ख्या—‘to be known’; विशेषण/विधेय: ‘renowned/known’

• तपः: of austerity
• तपः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण); ‘of austerity’

• अर्थे: for the purpose
• अर्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘for the sake/purpose’ (locative of purpose)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge in/resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातु: श्रि—‘to resort’, उपसर्ग: आ; विशेषण (qualifies ब्राह्मणः): ‘having resorted to’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas and vrata as formative disciplines; the narrative signals that conduct (vrata) and austerity (tapas) shape destiny and spiritual potency.

Vedantic Theme: Self-restraint (tapas) purifies the mind and strengthens sattva, enabling higher discernment and spiritual progress.

Application: Adopt measured austerities (fasting, simplicity, truthfulness) under guidance; create ‘forest-like’ simplicity periodically (retreat, reduced consumption) to deepen practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/ashrama-wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: use of purātana-itihāsa exempla to teach karma/dharma outcomes (general narrative technique)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Santaptaka)

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas (austerity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a renowned Brahmin who undertakes forest-austerity, signaling tapas as a disciplined means to refine conduct and strengthen dharma—often a narrative setup for later teachings on karma and its results.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it begins a traditional account centered on a virtuous practitioner, commonly used in the Preta Kanda to illustrate how choices (vows, discipline, actions) shape post-death outcomes described later in the dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a consistent vow of ethical restraint and disciplined practice (e.g., truthfulness, moderation, regular prayer/meditation), remembering that sustained conduct—not mere intention—forms one’s karmic trajectory.