Shloka 5

Preta-Mokṣa Upāya: Svapna-Lakṣaṇa, Pitṛ-Doṣa, and Prescribed Rites

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

पृच्छार्थं हितमन्विच्छन्दै वज्ञे विनिवदयेत् / स्वप्ने दृष्टः शुभो वृक्षः फलितश्चूतचम्पकः

Transliteration

pṛcchārthaṃ hitamanvicchandai vajñe vinivadayet / svapne dṛṣṭaḥ śubho vṛkṣaḥ phalitaścūtacampakaḥ

Translation

హితం కోరువాడు పండితుల వద్ద వినయంగా ప్రశ్నను సమర్పించాలి. స్వప్నంలో ఫలభారితమైన శుభ వృక్షం—మామిడి లేదా చంపక—కనిపిస్తే అది శుభలక్షణం.

Word by Word

• पृच्छार्थम्: for the purpose of asking
• पृच्छार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पृच्छायाः अर्थः = 'purpose of asking'; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (adverbial accusative: 'for the purpose')

• हितम्: welfare/benefit
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'benefit/good' (object of seeking)

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking
• अन्विच्छन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + इष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'seeking'

• दै: (particle; unclear)
• दै: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट (possibly 'देव'/'दैव' or metrical filler)

• यज्ञे: in a sacrifice/ritual
• यज्ञे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative 'in a sacrifice'

• विनिवेदयेत्: should inform/declare
• विनिवेदयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + विद् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense: 'should inform/announce'

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दृष्टः: seen
• दृष्टः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies 'वृक्षः'

• शुभः: auspicious
• शुभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies 'वृक्षः'

• वृक्षः: tree
• वृक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• फलितः: fruitful
• फलितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फलित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'fruit-bearing'

• चूतचम्पकः: mango-and-champaka (tree)
• चूतचम्पकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूत (प्रातिपदिक) + चम्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara): चूत-चम्पकः = 'mango and champaka'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (collective as a kind/name)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should respectfully inquire of the learned for one’s welfare; auspicious dreams can indicate favorable outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra and guru/learned counsel as pramāṇa for right action; signs (nimitta) as secondary supports, not ultimate truth.

Application: When facing uncertainty (including preta-related concerns), consult competent teachers/priests; treat omens as prompts for timely dharmic action, not superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nimitta (omen) and svapna (dream) indications used to diagnose preta-affliction and prescribe rites in adjacent passages.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dream omens in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats dreams as meaningful indicators: seeing a fruit-laden auspicious tree (mango/campaka) is presented as a favorable omen, supporting confidence in righteous action and timely rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: in the Preta Kanda context, auspicious signs (including dreams) are used to assess spiritual well-being and the suitability of actions/rites that support dharma and the departed’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek guidance humbly from knowledgeable elders/teachers, and treat uplifting, dharmic dream symbols as encouragement—while grounding decisions in ethical conduct and proper duties.