Shloka 13

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

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

शृणु सत्यमिदं तार्क्ष्य यद्ददाति भुनक्ति सः / आत्मानं श्रेयसा युञ्ज्यात्प्रेतस्तृप्तिं चिरं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

śṛṇu satyamidaṃ tārkṣya yaddadāti bhunakti saḥ / ātmānaṃ śreyasā yuñjyātpretastṛptiṃ ciraṃ vrajet

Translation

จงฟังความจริงนี้เถิด โอ้ตารกษยะ: ผู้ใดให้สิ่งใด ย่อมได้เสวยสิ่งนั้นเอง ด้วยทานเขาผูกจิตตนไว้กับความดีสูงสุด และเมื่อเป็นเปรตย่อมได้ความอิ่มเอิบยาวนาน

Word by Word

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (गरुड-नाम)

• यत्: what/that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भुनक्ति: enjoys/eats
• भुनक्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आत्मानम्: oneself, the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रेयसा: with welfare/merit
• श्रेयसा: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युञ्ज्यात्: should unite/engage
• युञ्ज्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रेतः: the departed spirit
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• व्रजेत्: should attain/go to
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta period/annual memorial contexts where offerings are dedicated

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala reciprocity: ‘what one gives, one enjoys’; dāna links the self to śreyas and secures enduring satisfaction in the preta condition.

Vedantic Theme: Ethical causality and purification: outward generosity refines the inner self (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi), preparing for higher good; continuity of karmic results beyond death.

Application: Cultivate regular dāna (food, water, clothing, support) and perform śrāddha with generosity; treat giving as investment in long-term welfare (ihaloka and paraloka).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana statements on dāna as the companion of the soul after death; Garuda Purana on preta-tṛpti through offerings and the mechanics of subtle enjoyment

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa (Tārkṣya)
• Preta (departed soul)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana’s teachings on the afterlife?

This verse states that one experiences what one gives; dāna connects the giver to śreyas (the highest good) and supports lasting tṛpti (satisfaction) for the departed in the preta state.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death in the Preta Kanda context?

It links post-death well-being (preta-tṛpti) to ethical action in life—especially giving—implying that merit created by dāna becomes a supportive experience for the departed consciousness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular, sincere giving—food, support to the needy, and ritual charity when appropriate—cultivating merit and a dharmic mindset that the text associates with welfare in life and after death.