Shloka 5

Devanagari script

जत्रुमूलात्परिसृता मन्दवेगवन्ती हि सा / वृद्धिमायासतो याति भुक्तमात्रे च मार्दबम्

Transliteration

jatrumūlātparisṛtā mandavegavantī hi sā / vṛddhimāyāsato yāti bhuktamātre ca mārdabam

Translation

Starting from the base of the throat, it spreads outward; indeed it moves with a sluggish force. It increases only with difficulty, and after one has eaten even a little, it becomes softened.

Word by Word

• जत्रु-मूलात्: from the root of the neck
• जत्रु-मूलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जत्रोः मूलम्)

• परिसृता: having spread/flowed around
• परिसृता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि√सृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय/भूतकर्मणि), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally

• मन्द-वेग-वन्ती: having slow speed
• मन्द-वेग-वन्ती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मन्दः वेगः यस्याः सा)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• सा: she/that (hiccup)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृद्धिम्: increase
• वृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• आयासतः: due to exertion
• आयासतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Ablatival adverb); ‘आयासात्’ इत्यर्थे

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भुक्त-मात्रे: at the mere act/amount of eating
• भुक्त-मात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्त (√भुज्, धातु; क्त-कृदन्त) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भुक्तस्य मात्रे)

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

• मार्दबम्: softness/relaxation
• मार्दबम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्दव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Attentive diagnosis and recognition of bodily signs as part of right conduct and self-care.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-anityatva (the body’s vulnerability) prompting vigilance and restraint.

Application: Observe early symptoms (throat-root spreading, sluggish movement, post-meal softening) and seek timely regimen/therapy rather than neglect.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.151.6-9 (Yamalā/Hikrā symptom progression and severity)

FAQs

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

It gives a technical, observation-like account of post-death or subtle-body conditions—how a certain state originates near the throat, spreads, moves slowly, and changes with intake—used to frame the Purana’s afterlife physiology.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

By describing specific bodily/subtle sensations and changes, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader narrative that the departed experiences transitional states (preta-related conditions) with concrete effects before reaching later destinations.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

It encourages mindful observance of śrāddha-related duties and ethical living by portraying the after-death transition as structured and consequential, not abstract—prompting responsibility toward rites and conduct.