Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

स्वप्ने नरौ हि निगडैर्बध्यते बहुधा यदि / अन्नं च याचते स्वप्ने कुवेषः पूर्वजो मृतः

Transliteration

svapne narau hi nigaḍairbadhyate bahudhā yadi / annaṃ ca yācate svapne kuveṣaḥ pūrvajo mṛtaḥ

Translation

หากในความฝันเห็นคนถูกล่ามโซ่ซ้ำๆ และบรรพชนผู้ล่วงลับสวมอาภรณ์ขาดรุ่งริ่งมาขออาหารในฝันนั้น นั่นเป็นเครื่องหมายแห่งความทุกข์ของสภาวะเปรตา และเป็นนิมิตให้ทำศราทธะและพิธีเกื้อกูล

Word by Word

• svapne: in a dream
• svapne: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्

• narau: a man
• narau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् (वैदिक/आर्ष-रूप; सामान्यतः naram)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); हेतौ/निश्चये

• nigaḍaiḥ: with fetters
• nigaḍaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigaḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• badhyate: is bound
• badhyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bandh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: is bound)

• bahudhā: in many ways
• bahudhā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• yācate: begs/asks for
• yācate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yāc (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• svapne: in a dream
• svapne: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• kuveṣaḥ: one of bad appearance/disguise
• kuveṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• pūrvajaḥ: an ancestor/elder-born
• pūrvajaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• mṛtaḥ: dead
• mṛtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √mṛ (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Upon repeated such dreams; also aligned with annual śrāddha/Amāvāsyā or prescribed family observances

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ancestors in preta-state may signal unmet needs; descendants have dharmic responsibility to perform rites that alleviate bondage and hunger.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of embodied duty (pravṛtti-dharma) with subtle post-death continuity; karma’s residual ties addressed through ritual means.

Application: If such dreams recur, consult family tradition/priest; perform appropriate śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and charity (anna-dāna) in the ancestor’s name.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: oneiric/liminal

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-lakṣaṇas via dreams; prescriptions for śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna (nearby chapters)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of dreams about ancestors begging for food in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats such dreams as an omen that a departed ancestor is in distress (preta-state) and is seeking ritual support—especially offerings like śrāddha and food-gifts meant to nourish and uplift the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies that the departed can remain in a troubled interim condition where hunger, lack, or bondage is experienced, and that the living’s rites and offerings can aid the soul’s transition and peace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If such recurring dreams arise, one may respond with ethical living and remembrance of ancestors, and (according to tradition) arrange śrāddha/food charity in the ancestor’s name as a supportive, compassionate act.