Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

गोचरं ग्रामसीमां तडागारामगह्वरम् / कर्षयन्ति च ये लोभात्प्रेतास्ते वै भवन्ति हि

Transliteration

gocaraṃ grāmasīmāṃ taḍāgārāmagahvaram / karṣayanti ca ye lobhātpretāste vai bhavanti hi

Translation

جو لوگ لالچ میں چرائی کی زمین، گاؤں کی حد، تالاب، باغ اور کھوہ وغیرہ پر ناجائز قبضہ کرتے ہیں، وہ یقیناً مر کر پریت بن جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• गोचरम्: pasture-land
• गोचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ग्रामसीमाम्: village boundary
• ग्रामसीमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम + सीमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तडागारामगह्वरम्: ponds, gardens, and ravines (as a collective tract)
• तडागारामगह्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग + आराम + गह्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• कर्षयन्ति: plough/cultivate
• कर्षयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• लोभात्: out of greed
• लोभात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause)

• प्रेताः: pretas
• प्रेताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ

• भवन्ति: become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: certainly/for
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lobha-driven encroachment on commons and boundary lands is adharma leading to preta-bhāva after death.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma born of rāga-lobha binds the jīva; harm to many beings magnifies karmic burden.

Application: Respect property lines and commons; support fair land governance; avoid exploitative acquisition; practice reparations and community stewardship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: commons and boundary lands

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: adharma of theft/encroachment and its afterlife results (general internal resonance); Garuda Purana: teachings on dāna and protection of cows/commons (conceptual linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of condemning land encroachment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats public and community resources—pasture, boundary land, ponds, gardens—as protected by dharma; greed-driven seizure is framed as a grave adharma that ripens into an afflicted post-death condition (preta-hood).

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

It links a specific unethical act (encroaching on communal lands/resources) with a specific post-mortem outcome: becoming a preta, a restless intermediate state marked by suffering due to unresolved karmic debt.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid greed-based appropriation of shared or protected spaces (commons, water bodies, boundary lands); practice fair ownership, restitution, and community-minded stewardship to align conduct with dharma.