Shloka 73

Devanagari script

राजप्रसादाप्तमहाशतग्रामाधिकारवान् / वृद्धौ मे पितरावास्तां लघुरेकः सहोदरः

Transliteration

rājaprasādāptamahāśatagrāmādhikāravān / vṛddhau me pitarāvāstāṃ laghurekaḥ sahodaraḥ

Translation

Durch königliche Gunst erlangte ich die Gewalt über einen großen Bezirk von hundert Dörfern. Meine Eltern waren betagt, und ich hatte nur einen jüngeren Bruder als einzigen leiblichen Geschwister.

Word by Word

• rāja-prasāda-āpta-mahā-śata-grāma-adhikāravān: having authority over a great hundred villages obtained by royal favor
• rāja-prasāda-āpta-mahā-śata-grāma-adhikāravān: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक) + āpta (कृदन्त; √āp + क्त) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + grāma (प्रातिपदिक) + adhikāra-vat (प्रातिपदिक; adhikāra + vat)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (rājaprasādena āptaḥ; mahāśatagrāmeṣu adhikāravān) used as predicate adjective

• vṛddhau: aged
• vṛddhau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with pitarau)

• me: my
• me: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• pitarau: (my) two parents (father and mother)
• pitarau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन

• āstām: were (there), lived
• āstām: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लङ्-प्रयोगे प्रचलितः; here as past ‘were/abided’: लोट् (imperative) 3rd person dual form used narratively; प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• laghuḥ: younger
• laghuḥ: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• sahodaraḥ: full brother
• sahodaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saha-udara (प्रातिपदिक; saha + udara)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः (same womb)

Speaker

A departed soul (preta) narrating his worldly situation (as recounted within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power and office gained by royal favor impose obligations toward dependents—especially aged parents and family.

Vedantic Theme: Artha and aiśvarya are transient; duty (svadharma) must be upheld without ego.

Application: Use authority responsibly; prioritize care for elders; ensure fair governance and family support structures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: administrative-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: narratives linking social power, family duty, and karmic outcome; Garuda Purana: rāja-dharma and household obligations as determinants of post-death fate

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of worldly status in the Garuda Purana’s teachings?

This verse highlights that even high rank gained by royal favor and vast administrative power remain merely worldly facts; they do not prevent old age, death, or the soul’s post-death accounting.

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

By listing parents, sibling, and authority, the narrative sets up the preta’s attachments and obligations—key themes in the Preta Kanda where the departed reflects on what was left behind and what still binds the mind.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do your duties to parents and family responsibly, but cultivate detachment and spiritual preparation—so status and possessions do not become the primary identity at life’s end.