Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

स्वाध्याययुक्तो होमेन यो (या) गयुक्तो दयान्वितः / यजन्स सकलान्यज्ञान्युक्त्या कालं च विक्षिपन्

Transliteration

svādhyāyayukto homena yo (yā) gayukto dayānvitaḥ / yajansa sakalānyajñānyuktyā kālaṃ ca vikṣipan

Translation

恒常勤修自学圣典（svādhyāya）、行火供（homa）、精进诵念与唱诵圣名，并具大悲心者——以如法圆满诸般祭祀（yajña），又以智慧善用时日不令虚掷，便能成就其法义（dharma）。

Word by Word

• स्वाध्याययुक्तः: engaged in self-study
• स्वाध्याययुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्-प्रत्ययान्तः ‘युक्त’ (past passive participle) — “endowed/engaged with”; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वाध्यायेन युक्तः)

• होमेन: by (means of) oblation/ritual offering
• होमेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• या: who (fem.)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वैकल्पिक-पाठ (feminine)

• गयुक्तः: connected with ‘ga’ (e.g., gāyatrī/Gayā-related)
• गयुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ग’/‘गाय’ इत्यादि-सम्बद्ध) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘युक्त’ भूतकृदन्त; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गेन/गायत्र्या/गया-सम्बन्धेन युक्तः इति भावः)

• दयान्वितः: endowed with compassion
• दयान्वितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √अन्वि/√इ धातु-सम्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘अन्वित’ = युक्त/समन्वित; समासः तत्पुरुषः (दयया अन्वितः)

• यजन्: worshipping/sacrificing
• यजन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त) ‘यजन्’ = यजमानः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विशेषणवत्)

• सकलानि: all
• सकलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘यज्ञान्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• यज्ञान्: sacrifices/rites
• यज्ञान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• युक्त्या: with proper method/skill
• युक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• विक्षिपन्: diverting/spending (time)
• विक्षिपन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) ‘विक्षिपन्’ = विक्षिप्यमाणः/विक्षेपं कुर्वन्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विशेषणवत्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrated sadhana: study, fire-offering, sacred song/recitation, and compassion—performed with yukti (discernment) and without wasting time—constitutes dharmic excellence.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga purified by sattva and guided by viveka; time (kala) as a field for sadhana rather than distraction.

Application: Maintain a daily rhythm of scriptural study, brief agnihotra/homa or lamp-offering, devotional recitation, and concrete acts of kindness; audit one’s day to reduce time-waste and align actions with intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.22.24-27 (continuation of sadachara and moksha-oriented discipline)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Yajna
• Homa

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya and homa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents svādhyāya (scriptural recitation) and homa (fire-offering) as core dharmic disciplines that purify conduct and build spiritual merit when practiced with proper method.

How does this verse relate to karma and the afterlife themes of the Preta Kanda?

By emphasizing compassionate character and correctly performed rites, the verse implies that disciplined, ethical living supports favorable karmic outcomes—central to the Preta Kanda’s concern with post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular study/recitation, perform simple offerings or daily worship as per one’s tradition, cultivate compassion, and structure time intentionally so spiritual practice and duty are not neglected.