Shloka 28

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

यथा तु समुखः कुर्यात्प्राणबाधाभयेषु च / गोमयाङ्गारवल्मीकफालाकृष्टे शुभे

Transliteration

yathā tu samukhaḥ kuryātprāṇabādhābhayeṣu ca / gomayāṅgāravalmīkaphālākṛṣṭe śubhe

Translation

Ebenso soll man, wenn Lebensgefahr droht oder man Schaden fürchtet, geradeaus voranschreiten, das Gesicht nach vorn. Und als glückverheißend gilt es, Kuhdung, glühende Kohlen, einen Ameisenhügel (valmīka) oder frisch vom Pflugschar aufgeworfene Erde zu treffen oder zu betreten.

Word by Word

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय ("as")

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: "but/indeed")

• समुखः: facing (towards)
• समुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ("facing/with face toward")

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्राणबाधाभयेषु: in fears of danger to life
• प्राणबाधाभयेषु: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + बाधा + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः (प्राणानां बाधा = प्राणबाधा; प्राणबाधा-भय = तद्धित/तत्पुरुषसमास)

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

• गोमयाङ्गारवल्मीकफालाकृष्टे: in a place marked with cow-dung, charcoal, an anthill, or a ploughshare-drawn line
• गोमयाङ्गारवल्मीकफालाकृष्टे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोमय + अङ्गार + वल्मीक + फाल + आकृष्ट (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ("drawn/marked"); समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (गोमयेन/अङ्गारेण/वल्मीकेन/फालेन आकृष्टे इति)

• शुभे: in an auspicious (spot)
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In danger, prioritize forward movement and safety; recognize culturally sanctioned auspicious encounters (gomaya, embers, anthill, freshly ploughed soil).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonizing conduct with cosmic order (rita) through both prudence and auspicious orientation.

Application: When safety is at stake, act decisively; cultivate mindful attention to surroundings and traditional signs without superstition overriding ethics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: roadside/field encounters (anthill, ploughed earth)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (sadachara and shaucha rules around travel, bodily functions, and purity)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats specific encounters (gomaya, embers, anthill, freshly ploughed earth) as śubha—favorable signs—guiding one’s conduct to align with dharma and protective ritual sensibility.

How does this verse relate to protection during fear or danger?

It instructs that in situations of prāṇabādhā (danger to life) and bhaya (fear), one should act ‘samukha’—steadily facing forward—implying composure and correct orientation rather than panic or retreat.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain steadiness and presence of mind in crisis, and understand traditional markers of ‘śubha’ as cultural cues for confidence and ritual purity (e.g., gomaya as a purifier in many Hindu practices).