Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 18

Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey

Devanagari script

भृत्यप्रसादसुमुखमायतारुणलोचनम् / किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं श्रिया वक्षसि लक्षितम्

Transliteration

bhṛtyaprasādasumukhamāyatāruṇalocanam / kirīṭinaṃ kuṇḍalinaṃ śriyā vakṣasi lakṣitam

Translation

كان له وجهٌ باسمٌ كريمٌ يفيض رضًا على خَدَمِه؛ وعينان فتِيّتان طويلتان متألّقتان. متوَّجًا ومتحلّيًا بالأقراط، وعلى صدره علامةُ شري (لاكشمي)، وهي ذاتُها سِمةُ البهاء الإلهي.

Word by Word

• भृत्यप्रसादसुमुखम्: having a pleasing face due to servants' favor
• भृत्यप्रसादसुमुखम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृत्य + प्रसाद + सुमुख (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भृत्य-प्रसादेन सुमुखः / भृत्यप्रसादः यस्य सुमुखत्वहेतुः)

• आयतारुणलोचनम्: with long reddish eyes
• आयतारुणलोचनम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत + अरुण + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय (आयते अरुणे लोचने यस्य)

• किरीटिनम्: wearing a crown
• किरीटिनम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (मतुप्/इनि-प्रत्ययान्त: 'crowned')

• कुण्डलिनम्: wearing earrings
• कुण्डलिनम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (इनि-प्रत्ययान्त: 'earringed')

• श्रिया: by/with Śrī (Lakṣmī; splendor)
• श्रिया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वक्षसि: on the chest
• वक्षसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• लक्षितम्: marked/adorned
• लक्षितम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta/Compiler-narration (descriptive passage within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s anugraha (favor) is intrinsic—His very countenance grants grace; Śrī on His chest indicates mercy and prosperity anchored in the divine.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna Brahman as the approachable Absolute; divine attributes (kalyāṇa-guṇas) as supports for meditation (upāsanā).

Application: Use these features for dhyāna: compassionate face, long youthful eyes, crown and earrings, Śrī on the chest—stabilize mind in loving reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: divine presence/inner court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.1.19 (yellow garment, four arms, throne, śaktis)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Vishnu’s form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vishnu’s auspicious, compassionate form; in the Preta Kanda context, such remembrance is taught as a stabilizing support for the soul and a devotional focus aligned with liberation.

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

By emphasizing Śrī on the chest and the benevolent, grace-bestowing visage, the verse frames divine refuge as the counterpoint to fear in the post-death journey described elsewhere in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily remembrance (smaraṇa) of a compassionate, auspicious ideal—through mantra, prayer, or visualization—so the mind naturally turns toward steadiness and dharma during crisis or at life’s end.