Shloka 89

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण उवाच / संज्ञास्तादृश्य आख्याता यथैता भवता दशाः / वदन्त्वाचारमात्रं मे प्रेता आहारमप्युत

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca / saṃjñāstādṛśya ākhyātā yathaitā bhavatā daśāḥ / vadantvācāramātraṃ me pretā āhāramapyuta

Translation

برہمن نے کہا: 'آپ نے ایسی نشانیوں اور حالات کا ذکر کیا ہے۔ اب مجھے پریتوں (بدروحوں) کے طور طریقوں اور ان کی خوراک کے بارے میں بتائیں۔'

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संज्ञाः: names/identifications
• संज्ञाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तादृश्यः: such (of that kind)
• तादृश्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (संज्ञाः इति)

• आख्याताः: have been stated/declared
• आख्याताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि/निष्पन्नार्थ (passive participle)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/उपमानार्थ अव्यय (conj./adverb: 'as/just as')

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवता: by you (sir)
• भवता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; आदरार्थ सर्वनाम

• दशाः: conditions/states
• दशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वदन्तु: let them tell
• वदन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आचार-मात्रम्: only the conduct (just the practice)
• आचार-मात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मात्रम् = केवलम्)

• मे: to me / of me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रेताः: the pretas (departed spirits)
• प्रेताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आहारम्: food
• आहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

• उत: and also
• उत: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थ अव्यय (particle: 'and/also')

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa (a learned priest/questioner in the narrative)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper ācāra (observance) and āhāra/offerings for the preta are to be learned and performed as prescribed.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifying discipline that supports orderly transition of the jīva and steadies the living mind.

Application: Seek scriptural guidance for śrāddha/pretakriyā; perform prescribed observances and food-offerings with faith and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-vidhi and preta-śānti sections (contextual continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-ācāra (observances for the departed) in Garuda Purana?

This verse shows a shift from merely knowing the signs/conditions of death to learning the prescribed conduct and rites that support the preta, emphasizing ritual duty (dharma) after death.

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

By asking specifically about the preta’s observances and food-offerings, it implies the soul enters a ‘preta’ phase where post-death rites and offerings are considered relevant to its journey and well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize correct, respectful post-death duties—seeking qualified guidance for śrāddha/offerings and maintaining disciplined conduct—rather than focusing only on omens or fear about death.