Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

शीघ्रं गच्छति विप्रेण याचितः क्षुधितेन वै / एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य शीघ्रगो ऽयं द्विजोत्तम

Transliteration

śīghraṃ gacchati vipreṇa yācitaḥ kṣudhitena vai / etatkāraṇamuddiśya śīghrago 'yaṃ dvijottama

Translation

جب بھوکا برہمن درخواست کرتا ہے تو عطیہ جلد پہنچ جاتا ہے۔ اسی سبب سے، اے بہترین دْوِج، اسے ‘شیغْرگ’ یعنی ‘تیزی سے جانے والا’ کہا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• गच्छति: goes
• गच्छति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विप्रेण: by a Brahmin
• विप्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• याचितः: (when) requested
• याचितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याच् (धातु) → याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘having been requested’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (अहं/सः) इत्यध्याहार्य-कर्तृसामानाधिकरण

• क्षुधितेन: by a hungry (one)
• क्षुधितेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुधित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्षुध्-धातोः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विप्रेण इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• एतत्कारणम्: this reason
• एतत्कारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘एतत् कारणम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: indicating / with reference to
• उद्दिश्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्+दिश् (धातु) → उद्दिश्य (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• शीघ्रगः: Quick-goer (name)
• शीघ्रगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीघ्र + ग (गम्-धातु-निष्पन्न प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘शीघ्रं गच्छति’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय: ‘द्विजेषु उत्तमः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Timely dāna to a hungry worthy recipient yields immediate efficacy; ‘Śīghraga’ signifies swift fruition/transfer.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic action bears quick, clarifying fruit; dharma aligns the individual with cosmic order.

Application: Prioritize urgent needs; practice anna-dāna and responsive generosity without procrastination.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: upadesha (definition/etymology)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: merit of anna-dāna; efficacy of gifts when properly offered (Pretakalpa adjacent material)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra/Dvija)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving to a hungry brāhmaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that charity offered upon request to a hungry brāhmaṇa is considered immediately efficacious—its merit is understood to “reach” swiftly, making it a prized form of dharmic giving in Preta Kanda contexts.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In Preta Kanda, timely gifts and offerings are described as producing quick spiritual results; this verse supports the idea that properly directed dana can rapidly generate merit that aids the departed (preta) through post-death transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice prompt, compassionate giving—especially food or support to those in genuine need and to qualified religious recipients—without delay when asked, as a disciplined form of dharma and remembrance-oriented charity.