Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

इष्टवस्तुवियो गैश्च पाताले मामकं भयम् / एवं न निर्भयं स्थानमन्यदीश भवत्पदात्

Transliteration

iṣṭavastuviyo gaiśca pātāle māmakaṃ bhayam / evaṃ na nirbhayaṃ sthānamanyadīśa bhavatpadāt

Translation

إنّي أخاف من فراق ما هو عزيز، ومن أهوال باتالا (Pātāla) في العوالم السفلى. فهكذا، يا ربّ، لا ملجأَ حقًّا بلا خوفٍ سوى عند قدميك المقدّستين.

Word by Word

• इष्टवस्तुवियः: separations from desired things
• इष्टवस्तुवियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + विय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (इष्टवस्तूनां वियः = प्रियवस्तुवियोगाः)

• गैः: by/with cows
• गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

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

• पाताले: in the netherworld
• पाताले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• मामकम्: my
• मामकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भयस्य)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• निर्भयम्: fearless
• निर्भयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्थानस्य)

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्थानस्य)

• ईश: O Lord
• ईश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• भवत्पदात्: from your feet
• भवत्पदात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भवतः पदम्)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati: no fear-free refuge exists apart from the Lord’s feet.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-āśraya and abhayatva through devotion; the finite self’s insecurity without the Supreme.

Application: Cultivate daily surrender (prapatti), remembrance of Viṣṇu in fear and grief, and reframe anxieties as prompts to take refuge in dharma and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld; sacred refuge

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Brahma-khaṇḍa): recurring motif of fear of Yama and refuge in Hari-nāma; Garuda Purana: teachings that Viṣṇu-bhakti mitigates fear at death

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Pātāla

FAQs

What is the importance of taking refuge in Vishnu’s feet in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Lord’s feet as the only truly fear-free refuge when one faces loss, separation, and the terrors associated with lower realms like Pātāla.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the afterlife context?

It highlights that worldly attachments and fear of lower regions cannot grant security; surrender to the Lord is portrayed as the stable protection beyond changing post-death conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from possessions and relationships as ultimate supports, and strengthen daily devotion (smaraṇa, nāma-japa, prayer) as an inner refuge during fear and uncertainty.