Shloka 21

Budhāṣṭamī / Mahārudra Vrata: Procedure, Mantra, and the Story of Kauśika and Vijayā

Devanagari script

व्तपुण्यप्रभावेण स्वर्गं गत्वावसत्सुखम्

Transliteration

vtapuṇyaprabhāveṇa svargaṃ gatvāvasatsukham

Translation

Durch die Kraft seines angesammelten Verdienstes gelangte er in den Himmel und verweilte dort in Glückseligkeit.

Word by Word

• तत्पुण्यप्रभावेण: by the power of that merit
• तत्पुण्यप्रभावेण: Hetu/Karana (Cause/means/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पुण्य + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तस्य पुण्यस्य प्रभावः)

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (गति-कर्म), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive)

• अवसत्: dwelt/lived
• अवसत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुखम्: happily/with comfort
• सुखम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial object/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya accrual yields svarga and सुख-वास; merit has tangible post-mortem results.

Vedantic Theme: Svarga as karma-phala (finite); hints at the distinction between heavenly enjoyment and ultimate mokṣa.

Application: Cultivate sustained merit through ethical living and vows, while remembering that higher aim may be liberation beyond temporary heavens.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: classifications of gati—svarga for puṇya, naraka for pāpa, and higher mokṣa teachings; Garuda Purana: repeated refrain that puṇya leads to svarga-sukha

Characters & Entities

• Svarga
• Punya

FAQs

What is the importance of punya (merit) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that punya has a real “prabhāva” (effective power) that can elevate a being to svarga, where the person experiences happiness as a direct karmic result.

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

It presents a straightforward karmic sequence: merit accrued through virtuous acts and austerity becomes the cause for reaching svarga and enjoying सुख (pleasant experience) there.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sustained punya through ethical conduct, charity, self-discipline, and dharmic living—since the text frames happiness in higher realms as the fruit of consistent virtuous accumulation.