Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञानं विप्रस्य सम्भाषात्पुण्यसंकीर्तनेन च / प्रेताः पापविनिर्मुक्ताः परं पदमवाप्नुयुः

Transliteration

jñānaṃ viprasya sambhāṣātpuṇyasaṃkīrtanena ca / pretāḥ pāpavinirmuktāḥ paraṃ padamavāpnuyuḥ

Translation

Nhờ được đàm đạo với vị brāhmaṇa uyên bác và nhờ sự tụng xướng công đức thánh thiện, các preta được giải thoát khỏi tội lỗi và đạt đến cảnh giới tối thượng.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विप्रस्य: of the Brahmin
• विप्रस्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सम्भाषात्: from conversation/discourse
• सम्भाषात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-भाषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• पुण्य: meritorious/holy
• पुण्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (as compound member)

• संकीर्तनेन: by the recitation/praise of merit
• संकीर्तनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; पुण्यसंकीर्तनेन = कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (पुण्यं संकीर्तनम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connection/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

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

• पाप: sin
• पाप: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (as compound member: ‘from sin’)

• विनिर्मुक्ताः: freed/released
• विनिर्मुक्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-निर्-मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; प्रेताः इति विशेषणम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पदम् इति विशेषणम्

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयुः: would attain/might attain
• अवाप्नुयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satsanga with a learned brāhmaṇa and puṇya-saṅkīrtana can dissolve papa and elevate pretas to the supreme state.

Vedantic Theme: Power of śravaṇa-kīrtana and sattvic association to attenuate karma; grace-mediated purification leading toward liberation-oriented gati.

Application: Engage in śāstra-satsaṅga, recite and hear sacred narratives and names, dedicate merit for the departed and for self-purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on śravaṇa, kīrtana, and brāhmaṇa-saṅga as purifiers (Pretakalpa and dharma sections); Garuda Purana: teachings on nāma/puṇya-kathā benefiting the departed (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of puṇya-saṅkīrtana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that recounting/reciting sacred and meritorious acts (puṇya-saṅkīrtana) helps cleanse the preta of pāpa, supporting their upliftment toward the supreme state.

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

It implies that a preta’s condition is not fixed: through supportive dharmic acts—especially guidance from a learned vipra and sacred recitation—the departed can be released from sin and progress toward a higher destination (param padam).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha or remembrance rites, seek learned guidance and perform sincere sacred recitation/reading of purifying texts, dedicating the merit for the departed’s well-being and inner purification.