Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

विमुक्तः सर्वदुः खेभ्यो येनाञ्जो दुर्गातिं तरेत् / भ्रातरः कस्य के पुत्रास्त्रियो ऽपि स्वार्थकोविदाः

Transliteration

vimuktaḥ sarvaduḥ khebhyo yenāñjo durgātiṃ taret / bhrātaraḥ kasya ke putrāstriyo 'pi svārthakovidāḥ

Translation

Von allem Leid befreit durch das, womit man rasch ein schlimmes Geschick überquert—bedenke: Wessen sind die Brüder, wessen die Söhne? Selbst Ehefrauen verstehen es, den eigenen Vorteil zu verfolgen.

Word by Word

• विमुक्तः: freed, released
• विमुक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासाङ्ग) विशेषण; here used as prefix in compound

• दुःखेभ्यः: from sufferings
• दुःखेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन, सर्वनाम

• अञ्जः: easily, directly
• अञ्जः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अञ्जस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपातवत्)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb: 'straight/easily')

• दुर्गातिम्: bad path, misfortune
• दुर्गातिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तरेत्: should cross/overcome
• तरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कस्य: of whom?
• कस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, सर्वनाम (Interrogative)

• के: who? which ones?
• के: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, सर्वनाम (Interrogative)

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्त्रियः: women, wives
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (Particle: 'also/even')

• स्वार्थकोविदाः: skilled in their own interest
• स्वार्थकोविदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वार्थ (स्व + अर्थ; प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Genitive/षष्ठी: 'स्वार्थस्य कोविदाः'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra in Preta Kanda discourse)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: To cross misfortune swiftly, one must rely on inner merit and right means; kinship bonds are not ultimate refuges.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and asaraṇa-bhāva (no ultimate shelter in worldly relations).

Application: Cultivate spiritual preparedness and ethical living; reduce dependency on social identity for existential security.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/teaching setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated motif that companions do not follow beyond death; only karma accompanies the jiva

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Samsara

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that worldly relations are unreliable at the time of death; detachment supports freedom from sorrow and helps one cross durgati (an unfortunate post-death condition).

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

It frames the post-death journey as something the individual must face primarily through one’s own karma and spiritual readiness, not through dependence on relatives.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma, charity, and inner discipline while living, and reduce excessive dependence on social identity—so that one meets loss, death, and uncertainty with clarity rather than attachment.