Shloka 10

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णं कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम् / विषमैः पर्वतैश्चैव सर्वतश्च समन्वितम्

Transliteration

bilvārkakhadirākīrṇaṃ kapitthadhvajasaṃyutam / viṣamaiḥ parvataiścaiva sarvataśca samanvitam

Translation

Der Wald war übersät mit Bilva-, Arka- und Khadira-Bäumen und gekennzeichnet durch Standarten mit dem Zeichen der Kapittha. Ringsum war er von rauen, unebenen Bergen erfüllt.

Word by Word

• बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णम्: strewn with bilva, arka, and khadira trees
• बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिल्व + अर्क + खदिर + आकीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु √कॄ/कीर् ‘to scatter’ → आकीर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (बिल्वैः अर्कैः खदिरैः आकीर्णम्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम्: endowed with kapittha and dhvaja (trees/standards)
• कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपित्थ + ध्वज + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु √युज् → संयुत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कपित्थैः ध्वजैः संयुतम्/युक्तम्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• विषमैः: with uneven/rough
• विषमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पर्वतैः)

• पर्वतैः: mountains
• पर्वतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Desha (Location/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

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

• समन्वितम्: provided with, furnished
• समन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अन्-वि-इ (धातु √इ/√अन्?; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक समन्वित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘समन्वित/युक्त’ विशेषणम् (वनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/mountainous region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana descriptive passages of landscapes as preludes to moral/karma events (structural parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of this landscape description in the Garuda Purana?

It sets the scene for Yama’s domain as harsh and formidable, emphasizing that the post-death route is difficult and shaped by one’s karma.

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

By portraying an uneven, mountain-filled region with specific markers (banners/standards), it conveys that the preta’s journey passes through daunting, structured realms under Yama’s order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and perform prescribed duties (dharma) and remembrance/rites with sincerity, so the after-death passage is not burdened by the consequences of harmful actions.