Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

यथा मम शुभावाप्तिर्भवेन्नृपवरोत्तम / तथा कार्यं महीपाल दयां कृत्वा मयि प्रभो

Transliteration

yathā mama śubhāvāptirbhavennṛpavarottama / tathā kāryaṃ mahīpāla dayāṃ kṛtvā mayi prabho

Translation

O bester der Könige, handle so, dass ich heilsames, glückverheißendes Wohlergehen erlange. O Hüter der Erde, o Herr, erbarme dich meiner und tue dementsprechend.

Word by Word

• यथा: so that, in such a way that
• यथा: Sambandha (Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/so that)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• शुभावाप्तिः: auspicious attainment
• शुभावाप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ + आवाप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे (शुभा आवाप्तिः = auspicious attainment)

• भवेत्: may be, should happen
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृपवरोत्तम: O best of excellent kings
• नृपवरोत्तम: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + वर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला (नृपाणां वरः, तेषाम् उत्तमः)

• तथा: thus, accordingly
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/accordingly)

• कार्यम्: what should be done; the deed
• कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्तव्यवाचक (that which is to be done)

• महीपाल: O protector of the earth
• महीपाल: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महीम् पालयति)

• दयाम्: compassion
• दयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done (having shown)
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done/shown)

• मयि: towards/in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Speaker

A supplicant (an afflicted soul/one seeking relief) addressing a king

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dayā (compassion) and right action by those with power can secure ‘śubha’ (auspicious welfare) for the afflicted.

Vedantic Theme: Ethics as purification (citta-śuddhi) and as support for dharma; compassionate agency as part of loka-saṅgraha.

Application: When able to help, act with compassion and competence; align means with the beneficiary’s true welfare, not mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/seat of governance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dayā and righteous conduct in governance and ritual contexts

FAQs

What is the importance of compassion (dayā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dayā as the decisive dharmic attitude that enables an auspicious outcome (śubhāvāpti) for one in distress, urging the authority figure to act mercifully.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife concerns?

In the Preta Kanda’s broader context of suffering and relief, the plea for śubhāvāpti highlights that timely, compassionate action can change the condition of an afflicted being and support a favorable spiritual state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act with compassion when someone seeks help—especially in matters of grief, rites, charity, and duty—so your decisions become instruments of welfare rather than neglect.