Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, 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

خواب میں بیٹا یا جانور گھر سے نکلتا ہوا دکھائی دے، اور اسی طرح باپ، بھائی اور بیوی بھی نظر آئیں—یہ سب پریت دَوش کے سبب پیدا ہونے والے مناظر ہیں۔

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.