Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

निर्जलं निर्मनुष्यञ्च बहुयोजनमायतम् / मृगसिंहैर्महाघोरैन्यैश्चापि वनेचरैः

Transliteration

nirjalaṃ nirmanuṣyañca bahuyojanamāyatam / mṛgasiṃhairmahāghorainyaiścāpi vanecaraiḥ

Translation

Es war ein wasserloses, menschenleeres Gebiet, das sich über viele Yojanas erstreckte. Dort hausten überaus furchterregende Tiere—Hirsche und Löwen—und andere Waldwesen.

Word by Word

• निर्जलम्: waterless
• निर्जलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः (जलम् नास्ति यस्मिन्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• निर्मनुष्यम्: devoid of people
• निर्मनुष्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः (मनुष्यः नास्ति यस्मिन्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

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

• बहुयोजनम्: many yojanas (in extent)
• बहुयोजनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बहूनि योजनानि प्रमाणम्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• आयतम्: long, extensive
• आयतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• मृगसिंहैः: with deer and lions
• मृगसिंहैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• महाघोरैः: very dreadful
• महाघोरैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः घोराः) विशेषणम् (मृगसिंहैः/वनेचरैः)

• अन्यैः: other
• अन्यैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वनेचरैः)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार-अव्यय (also/even)

• वनेचरैः: forest-dwellers (wild creatures)
• वनेचरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (वने चरन्ति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Entering perilous, resource-less spaces without necessity reflects pramāda (heedlessness); discernment is a protective dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-driven pursuit leads into ‘nirjala’ inner barrenness; the mind’s wilderness mirrors external wilderness.

Application: Assess risk and necessity before pursuing desires; cultivate foresight and restraint when conditions are hostile.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness/deserted forest tract

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: imagery of desolate, fearsome regions often used later for naraka/yama-path descriptions (imagistic resonance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘waterless, humanless’ region in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes the desolation and isolation of the post-death route—symbolizing the soul’s vulnerability and the frightening, unfamiliar conditions faced when leaving the human world.

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

It portrays the route as vast and inhospitable, populated by terrifying wild beings, highlighting the hardships and fear associated with the journey toward Yama’s realm described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma and self-restraint so fear and agitation lessen; cultivate compassion and disciplined conduct, and support appropriate śrāddha/ancestral rites to honor the transition taught in Garuda Purana traditions.