Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 25

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

को गर्वः क्रियते तार्क्ष्य क्षणविध्वंसिभिर्नरैः / दानं वित्तादृता वाचः कीर्तिधर्मौ तथायुषः

Transliteration

ko garvaḥ kriyate tārkṣya kṣaṇavidhvaṃsibhirnaraiḥ / dānaṃ vittādṛtā vācaḥ kīrtidharmau tathāyuṣaḥ

Translation

يا تَاركشْيَ (غارودا)، أيُّ كبرياءٍ يليقُ بإنسانٍ تُمحى حياتُه في لحظة؟ إنّ المالَ لِلدّانَة، للعطاء؛ والكلامَ ينبغي صونُه (صدقًا وضبطًا)؛ وكذلك الشهرةُ والدهرما وطولُ العمر—كلُّها زائلة.

Word by Word

• kaḥ: what? who? (which)
• kaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• garvaḥ: pride
• garvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kriyate: is done; is made
• kriyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु; करणे)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• tārkṣya: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• tārkṣya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• kṣaṇa-vidhvaṃsibhiḥ: by moment-perishing
• kṣaṇa-vidhvaṃsibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhvaṃsin (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; vi+√dhvaṃs धातु, नाशे, णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (kṣaṇena vidhvaṃsinaḥ = perishing in a moment)

• naraiḥ: by men
• naraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• dānam: gift; charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vitta-ādṛtāḥ: respected due to wealth
• vitta-ādṛtāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādṛta (कृदन्त; ā+√dṛ धातु, आदरे, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (vācaḥ); तत्पुरुषः (vittena ādṛtāḥ = respected because of wealth)

• vācaḥ: words; speech
• vācaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• kīrti-dharmau: fame and virtue
• kīrti-dharmau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः

• tathā: also; likewise
• tathā: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमान (also; likewise)

• āyuṣaḥ: of life; lifespan
• āyuṣaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Since life is moment-fragile, pride is irrational; wealth should be used for dāna, speech should be restrained/truthful, and one should uphold dharma while time remains.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā leading to vairāgya and right action; karma-yoga orientation—using resources without ego.

Application: Practice regular charity; adopt mindful speech (truthful, non-harmful); set priorities around dharma and service rather than status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: didactic discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring exhortations to dāna, satya-vāk, and mṛtyu-smṛti in dharma-oriented passages (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tarkshya)

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the certainty of sudden destruction (kṣaṇa-vidhvaṁsa) to dismantle pride and redirect life toward dharma—especially giving, truthful speech, and conduct that outlasts the body.

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

By stressing that life, fame, and worldly status end quickly, it encourages merit-producing actions (dāna, dharma, truthful restraint) that are treated in the Preta Kanda as supportive for the departed and beneficial for the next journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency and humility: practice regular charity from your earnings, speak carefully and truthfully, and prioritize dharma over status—because lifespan and reputation can vanish without warning.