Shloka 3

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

कुत्र भुञ्जन्ति देवेश क्रथयस्व प्रसादतः / पक्षिराजवचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

kutra bhuñjanti deveśa krathayasva prasādataḥ / pakṣirājavacaḥ śrutvā bhagavānvākyamabravīt

Translation

„O Herr der Götter, wo nehmen sie die Opfergaben zu sich? Sage es mir gnädig.“ Als der König der Vögel (Garuḍa) gesprochen hatte, erwiderte der selige Herr.

Word by Word

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• भुञ्जन्ति: they eat/enjoy
• भुञ्जन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• देवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• क्रथयस्व: tell/explain
• क्रथयस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• प्रसादतः: out of grace; kindly
• प्रसादतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (as an ablatival adverbial: 'out of grace')

• पक्षिराजवचः: the words of the king of birds (Garuda)
• पक्षिराजवचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिराज-वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पक्षिराजस्य वचः)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), 'having heard'

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: speech; words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (transition), with Garuda’s question leading into Lord Vishnu’s reply

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Humble questioning (praśna) as the doorway to saving knowledge received from Bhagavān.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-upadeśa as pramāṇa; śraddhā and vinaya as adhikāritva for hearing.

Application: Approach teachers/scripture with respectful, precise questions; cultivate receptivity before ritual or doctrinal details.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dialogue frame): Garuḍa’s questions leading into śrāddha/pretakalpa teachings in adjacent sections

Characters & Entities

• Devesha (Lord Vishnu)
• Pakshiraja (Garuda)

FAQs

What is the importance of asking “where do they partake of offerings” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse sets up a key teaching: how śrāddha and piṇḍa offerings reach the departed, a central concern in the Preta Kanda’s guidance on death rites.

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

It frames the instructional dialogue—Garuda inquires about the mechanism of post-death nourishment, and Vishnu’s forthcoming reply explains the post-mortem condition and how rites support the preta’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites (śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna) with clarity of intent and correct procedure, understanding they are meant to support the departed and uphold dharma within the family lineage.