Shloka 12

Preta-lakṣaṇa and Svapna-nimitta: Dream Portents of Preta-affliction and the Prescribed Remedies

Devanagari script

निर्गच्छेद्वा गृहाद्वापि स्वप्ने पुत्रस्तथा पशुः / पिता भ्राता कलत्रं च प्रेतदोषैस्तु पश्यति

Transliteration

nirgacchedvā gṛhādvāpi svapne putrastathā paśuḥ / pitā bhrātā kalatraṃ ca pretadoṣaistu paśyati

Translation

ในความฝันอาจเห็นบุตรหรือสัตว์ออกจากเรือน และอาจเห็นบิดา พี่น้อง หรือภรรยาด้วย ทั้งหมดนี้เป็นนิมิตที่เกิดจากโทษแห่งเปรต

Word by Word

• nirgacchet: may go out/should depart
• nirgacchet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√gam (निर्गम्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• gṛhāt: from the house
• gṛhāt: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• api: also/even
• api: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (also/even)

• svapne: in a dream
• svapne: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thus/likewise)

• paśuḥ: animal
• paśuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• pitā: father
• pitā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पितृ-शब्द (irregular declension)

• bhrātā: brother
• bhrātā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (भ्रातृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भ्रातृ-शब्द (irregular declension)

• kalatraṃ: wife/spouse
• kalatraṃ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (and)

• preta-doṣaiḥ: due to preta-afflictions
• preta-doṣaiḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतस्य दोषाः)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/but)

• paśyati: sees
• paśyati: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dream-visions of son/animal departing, or seeing close kin, are categorized as preta-doṣa nimittas—effects of unseen karmic/ritual imbalance linked to the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle causality: inner experiences can function as indicators of unseen bonds (ṛṇa) and karmic residues requiring harmonization.

Application: Treat repeated ‘departure’ dreams as prompts to perform śānti measures (tarpaṇa/śrāddha/prāyaścitta) and restore household discipline and calm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic space (seen in dream)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.23.10-14 (catalog of dream signs and remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-doṣa in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain disturbing dream-visions—seeing close relations or even animals leaving the home—as indicators of preta-related affliction, prompting awareness and appropriate remedial rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking dream phenomena to 'preta-doṣa', it reflects the Garuda Purana’s view that unresolved post-death conditions can affect the living through subtle signs, implying the need for proper post-death rites to stabilize the departed’s state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat repeated, troubling bereavement-themed dreams as a cue for remembrance, prayer, and—where one follows tradition—consultation with a learned priest for śrāddha/pinda-related observances rather than panic or superstition.