Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 9

Preta-lakṣaṇa and Svapna-nimitta: Dream Portents of Preta-affliction and the Prescribed Remedies

Devanagari script

स्ववाचा वदते यस्तु गोवृषद्विजावाजिषु / लिङ्गे गजे तथा देवे भूते प्रेते निशाचरे

Transliteration

svavācā vadate yastu govṛṣadvijāvājiṣu / liṅge gaje tathā deve bhūte prete niśācare

Translation

Còn người nào nói năng như mang giọng của bò, bò đực, Bà-la-môn hay ngựa; lại cũng nói như thế về liṅga, voi, chư thiên, bhūta (linh thể), preta, hay kẻ lang thang ban đêm—thì lời nói dị thường ấy được xem là điềm dữ, dấu hiệu cận tử.

Word by Word

• svavācā: with one’s own voice
• svavācā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (svasya vācā = with one's own voice)

• vadate: speaks
• vadate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• go-vṛṣa-dvija-avājiṣu: among cows, bulls, Brahmins, and horses
• go-vṛṣa-dvija-avājiṣu: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + avāji (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (in/among cows, bulls, twice-born, and horses)

• liṅge: in a sign/mark (liṅga)
• liṅge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• gaje: in an elephant
• gaje: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction): समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थे

• deve: in a god/deity
• deve: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• bhūte: in a being/ghost
• bhūte: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• prete: in a preta (departed spirit)
• prete: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• niśācare: in a night-wanderer (demon)
• niśācare: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Loss of normal speech and mimicking voices of beings (animals, dvija, deva, bhūta, preta) is an ominous sign; maintain ritual and moral order when such liminal symptoms appear.

Vedantic Theme: Mind-speech as instrument (karaṇa) subject to disturbance; the witnessing self remains distinct though the psycho-physical system destabilizes.

Application: Seek protective measures consistent with tradition: mantra-japa (Vishnu), sattvic conduct, and timely last-rites preparation if death-signs accumulate; also ensure compassionate care for the afflicted.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: household/public space where speech is witnessed; also liminal influence of bhūta/preta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: death-omens (ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa) including abnormal speech/behavior and bhūta-preta indications

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Bhutas
• Pretas
• Nishacharas

FAQs

What is the importance of death-omens (ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats unnatural, non-human or uncanny speech as an ariṣṭa—an indicator that life-force and mental balance are disturbed, prompting timely spiritual preparation and remedial rites.

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

By marking such speech as an ominous sign, the text signals the transition phase when one should focus on dharma, remembrance of the Divine, and proper rites that support a smoother passage into the preta-state and onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat severe, uncanny behavioral changes as a serious warning—seek medical help, reduce harmful actions, intensify prayer/chanting, and, if one follows tradition, consult learned priests for appropriate śānti and death-ritual preparations.