Shloka 54

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

रक्तं पलशतं तार्क्ष्यं बुद्धमेव पुरातनैः / पलानि दश मेदश्च त्वचा चैव तु तत्समा

Transliteration

raktaṃ palaśataṃ tārkṣyaṃ buddhameva purātanaiḥ / palāni daśa medaśca tvacā caiva tu tatsamā

Translation

O Tārkṣya (Garuda), die Alten haben wahrlich erklärt, dass die Menge des Blutes hundert Pala beträgt; das Fett zehn Pala, und die Haut ist von gleichem Maß (dem Fett gleich).

Word by Word

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Karta/Pradhana-vishaya (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st)/द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पलशतम्: a hundred palas (in weight)
• पलशतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पलानां शतम्) परिमाणवाचकः; रक्तम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तार्क्ष्यम्: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्यम्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन/उद्बोधन-शब्दवत् प्रयोगः; अव्ययवत् (vocative-like address)

• बुद्धम्: known/understood
• बुद्धम्: Kriya-visheshana (Predicative participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) → बुद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; रक्तम् इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पुरातनैः: by the ancients
• पुरातनैः: Karana/Karta (Agent/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे (agent/instrument)

• पलानि: palas
• पलानि: Pramana (Measure/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया (agreeing with पलानि)

• मेदः: fat
• मेदः: Karta/Pradhana-vishaya (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st)/द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• त्वचा: skin
• त्वचा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच्/त्वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• तत्समा: equal to that (same measure)
• तत्समा: Vidhaya-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषवत् (तत्-समा = तेन समा) ; त्वचा इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhātu-parimāṇa (quantification of blood, fat, skin) as knowledge of embodied constitution.

Vedantic Theme: Anātma-viveka support: what is quantified and changeable is not the Self; body as upādhi.

Application: Contemplate bodily materials to temper attachment to appearance and sensuality; cultivate cleanliness and moderation knowing the body’s material basis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.53, 2.32.55-57 (same anatomical series; karma conclusion)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)

FAQs

What is the importance of measuring bodily substances in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the body as a measurable, perishable aggregate—supporting the Preta Kanda’s focus on what departs at death and why rites address the departed (preta) rather than the decaying physical elements.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death rituals?

By emphasizing the body’s material composition, it reinforces the ritual logic that post-death observances (like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna) are meant to aid the subtle journey, not preserve the physical body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and ethical living: remembering the body’s impermanence helps prioritize dharma, compassion, and timely performance of family duties such as last rites.