Shloka 17

Devanagari script

गृध्रास्थिञ्च गवास्थिञ्च तथा निर्माल्यमेव च / अरेर्यो निखनेद्द्वारे पञ्चत्वमु पयाति सः

Transliteration

gṛdhrāsthiñca gavāsthiñca tathā nirmālyameva ca / areryo nikhaneddvāre pañcatvamu payāti saḥ

Translation

Wer an der Türschwelle den Knochen eines Geiers, den Knochen einer Kuh oder Nirmālya (Reste ritueller Opfergaben) vergräbt, dem widerfährt Verderben; bald gelangt er zum Tod.

Word by Word

• गृध्रास्थि: vulture bone
• गृध्रास्थि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘गृध्रस्य अस्थि’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)

• गवास्थि: cow bone
• गवास्थि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गव्/गो (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘गवः/गोः अस्थि’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपातः

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (thus/also)

• निर्माल्यम्: withered/used offering remnants
• निर्माल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपातः (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपातः

• अरेः: of an enemy
• अरेः: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यो: who
• यो: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• निखनेत्: should bury/dig in
• निखनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः नि-

• द्वारे: at the door/gateway
• द्वारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पञ्चत्वम्: death (state of being five elements)
• पञ्चत्वम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपयाति: goes to/attains
• उपयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः उप-

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoidance of aśauca/amaṅgala acts at liminal spaces; improper handling of impure substances invites harm.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma as disordering of sattva in the lived environment; external impurity mirrors inner negligence.

Application: Maintain cleanliness and auspiciousness at entrances; do not place/bury impure or ritually discarded items at thresholds; follow local śāstric and community norms for disposal.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (prohibitions and ritual hazards connected with ābhicārika/threshold practices)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding impure objects at the doorway in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the doorway/threshold as a sensitive ritual boundary; burying impure or inauspicious items there is said to invite severe misfortune culminating in death.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences in the Garuda Purana?

It frames malicious or improper ritual behavior (especially involving nirmālya and animal bones) as a karmically potent act that quickly ripens into destructive results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and sanctity at entrances; dispose of worship remnants respectfully (not at thresholds) and avoid actions motivated by harm, superstition, or hostility.