Shloka 22

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

को ऽपि मृत्युं न जयति बालो वृद्धो युवापि वा / सुखदुः खादिको वापि पुनरायाति याति च

Transliteration

ko 'pi mṛtyuṃ na jayati bālo vṛddho yuvāpi vā / sukhaduḥ khādiko vāpi punarāyāti yāti ca

Translation

Niemand besiegt den Tod—weder Kind noch Greis noch selbst der Jüngling. Wer Genuss und Schmerz verzehrt (an die weltliche Erfahrung gebunden), kommt immer wieder und geht auch immer wieder.

Word by Word

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Emphasis/Connector (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘also/even’

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• जयति: conquers
• जयति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बालः: a child
• बालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वृद्धः: an old man
• वृद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• युवा: a youth
• युवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Emphasis/Connector (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• सुखदुःखादिकः: one concerned with pleasure and pain etc.
• सुखदुःखादिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + आदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (सुख-दुःख-आदि) + ‘-आदिक’ = ‘having/concerned with pleasures and pains etc.’

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb)

• आयाति: comes back/returns
• आयाति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) उपसर्गः आ-
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mṛtyu-ajayatva (death is unconquered by embodied beings) and saṃsāra (repeated arrival and departure) driven by worldly experience of sukha-duḥkha.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā and saṃsāra-duḥkha as catalysts for mumukṣutva; seek the deathless (amṛta) through realization/devotion.

Application: Contemplate mortality (maraṇānusmṛti), reduce compulsive pursuit of pleasure/pain cycles, prioritize spiritual practice and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana reflections on death’s certainty and the need for preparation through dharma and devotion

Characters & Entities

• Mṛtyu (Death)

FAQs

What is the importance of the inevitability of death in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that death spares no age—child, youth, or old—so one should prioritize dharma and preparation for the after-death journey rather than relying on worldly security.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stating 'again one comes and goes,' it points to saṃsāra: the jīva repeatedly takes birth and departs, driven by attachment and the experience of sukha-duḥkha shaped by karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency and clarity: reduce attachment to pleasure-pain reactions, practice ethical conduct, and remember mortality to guide daily choices toward dharma and inner discipline.