Shloka 38

Devanagari script

यस्तु पृच्छति तत्रस्थः स साधुर्जयतिध्रुवम् / यां दिशं वहते वायुस्तां दिशं यावदाजयः

Transliteration

yastu pṛcchati tatrasthaḥ sa sādhurjayatidhruvam / yāṃ diśaṃ vahate vāyustāṃ diśaṃ yāvadājayaḥ

Translation

Wer aber, dort anwesend, in rechter Weise fragt—der Fromme erringt gewiss den Sieg. In welche Richtung der Wind ihn trägt, in eben diese Richtung schreitet er, so weit ihn Schwung oder Schicksal treibt.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विभेद-अव्यय

• पृच्छति: asks
• पृच्छति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• तत्रस्थः: standing there/present there
• तत्रस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्र+स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष) = तत्र स्थितः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (past participle sense)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साधुः: a good man/one who is right
• साधुः: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम

• जयति: wins
• जयति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• याम्: which
• याम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम विशेषण (दिशम्)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्/दिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वहते: carries/blows
• वहते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (दिशम्)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्/दिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यावत्: until/as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-अव्यय (as long as/until)

• आजयः: victory (as outcome)
• आजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/अर्थः: आजयः = विजयः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Victory is linked to right inquiry and virtuous conduct; movement should accord with prevailing forces (wind), blending effort with situational alignment.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva within īśvara-niyati: act with dharma and attentiveness, yet recognize the role of larger currents (kāla/vāyu/prārabdha).

Application: Ask the right questions at the right place/time; then commit to a direction consistent with conditions rather than forcing an ill-suited plan.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: wind-borne direction (vāyu-dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.67 (vāyu-śakuna and yātrā indications)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of right inquiry in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that sincere, proper questioning aligned with dharma is itself a spiritual strength—leading the virtuous person toward assured success and clarity of direction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Using the metaphor of wind-driven movement, it suggests that a being’s course can be carried by subtle forces—yet the dharmic, discerning one gains ‘victory,’ implying better guidance through uncertain currents.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic living and ask the right questions (about duty, consequences, and truth); this steadies decisions when life feels driven by external forces and changing circumstances.