Shloka 10

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णं कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम् / विषमैः पर्वतैश्चैव सर्वतश्च समन्वितम्

Transliteration

bilvārkakhadirākīrṇaṃ kapitthadhvajasaṃyutam / viṣamaiḥ parvataiścaiva sarvataśca samanvitam

Translation

وكانت تلك الغابة مملوءةً بأشجار البِلوة والأركا والخديرة، وموسومةً براياتٍ تحمل شعار الكَپِتْثَة. ومن كل جانبٍ كانت تحيط بها جبالٌ وعرةٌ غير مستوية.

Word by Word

• बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णम्: strewn with bilva, arka, and khadira trees
• बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिल्व + अर्क + खदिर + आकीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु √कॄ/कीर् ‘to scatter’ → आकीर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (बिल्वैः अर्कैः खदिरैः आकीर्णम्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम्: endowed with kapittha and dhvaja (trees/standards)
• कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपित्थ + ध्वज + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु √युज् → संयुत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कपित्थैः ध्वजैः संयुतम्/युक्तम्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• विषमैः: with uneven/rough
• विषमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पर्वतैः)

• पर्वतैः: mountains
• पर्वतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Desha (Location/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

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

• समन्वितम्: provided with, furnished
• समन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अन्-वि-इ (धातु √इ/√अन्?; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक समन्वित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘समन्वित/युक्त’ विशेषणम् (वनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/mountainous region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana descriptive passages of landscapes as preludes to moral/karma events (structural parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of this landscape description in the Garuda Purana?

It sets the scene for Yama’s domain as harsh and formidable, emphasizing that the post-death route is difficult and shaped by one’s karma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By portraying an uneven, mountain-filled region with specific markers (banners/standards), it conveys that the preta’s journey passes through daunting, structured realms under Yama’s order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and perform prescribed duties (dharma) and remembrance/rites with sincerity, so the after-death passage is not burdened by the consequences of harmful actions.