Shloka 17

Arrival at Yama’s cities: Citragupta’s scrutiny, Dharmadhvaja’s gate, and the necessity of dāna

Devanagari script

अशाश्वतं परिज्ञाय सर्वलोकोत्तरं सुखम् / यदा भवति मानुष्यं तदा धर्मं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

aśāśvataṃ parijñāya sarvalokottaraṃ sukham / yadā bhavati mānuṣyaṃ tadā dharmaṃ samācaret

Translation

In der Erkenntnis, dass das weltliche Dasein unbeständig ist und dass das höchste Glück, das alle Welten überragt, durch Dharma erlangt wird, soll man, sobald man die menschliche Geburt erreicht, eifrig Rechtschaffenheit üben.

Word by Word

• अशाश्वतम्: non-eternal, impermanent
• अशाश्वतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेधार्थ (not eternal)

• परिज्ञाय: having understood
• परिज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having understood/known’

• सर्वलोकोत्तरम्: higher than all worlds, transcendent
• सर्वलोकोत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वलोकोत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) = सर्व + लोक + उत्तर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वलोकात् उत्तरम्/श्रेष्ठम्)

• सुखम्: happiness, bliss
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb ‘when’)

• भवति: occurs/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानुष्यं: human birth/state
• मानुष्यं: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb ‘then’)

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous conduct
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognize the impermanence of worldly existence; upon attaining human birth, earnestly practice dharma to reach happiness beyond all worlds.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya born of anitya-bodha; dharma as purifier and stepping-stone toward mokṣa (sādhana-catuṣṭaya: viveka/vairāgya implied).

Application: Adopt daily disciplines: truth, non-harm, charity, self-restraint, study, and devotion; prioritize long-term spiritual welfare over short-term pleasures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of human birth and exhortations to dharma for crossing saṃsāra (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of human birth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse says human life is the key opportunity to practice dharma, because worldly existence is impermanent and true higher happiness is gained through righteous conduct.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By urging dharma during human life, it implies that one’s post-death condition and experiences are shaped by actions done now, not by impermanent worldly pursuits.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat life as temporary, prioritize ethical choices, self-discipline, charity, truthfulness, and duties to family and society—so one’s life aligns with dharma rather than short-lived pleasures.