Shloka 2

Devanagari script

संसारचक्रं वक्ष्ये ऽहमादाबुत्क्रान्तिकालतः / यद्विना पुरुषार्थो न लीनः स्यात्परमात्मनि

Transliteration

saṃsāracakraṃ vakṣye 'hamādābutkrāntikālataḥ / yadvinā puruṣārtho na līnaḥ syātparamātmani

Translation

I shall explain the wheel of saṃsāra, beginning from the time of departure (leaving the body at death); for without understanding this, the aim of human life cannot be absorbed into the Supreme Self (Paramātman).

Word by Word

• संसारचक्रम्: the cycle of saṃsāra
• संसारचक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (saṃsārasya cakram)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (I shall speak)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; लिङ्ग-अनियत (pronoun)

• आदात्: from the beginning
• आदात्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आद (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भार्थक (from the beginning)

• उत्क्रान्तिकालतः: from the time of departure (death)
• उत्क्रान्तिकालतः: Apadana (Source/Starting point/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्क्रान्ति + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (utkrānteḥ kālaḥ → time of departure)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपातः; वियोगार्थक (without)

• पुरुषार्थः: human goal/purpose
• पुरुषार्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (puruṣasya arthaḥ)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• लीनः: merged/absorbed
• लीनः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त, past passive participle) ‘लीन’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये विशेषणरूपेण (merged)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमात्मनि: in the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (paramaḥ ātmā → Supreme Self)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Understanding the saṃsāra-cakra from the time of death is necessary for the puruṣārtha to culminate in absorption into Paramātman.

Vedantic Theme: Mokṣa as paramātma-laya (abidance/absorption in the Supreme Self); death as a pedagogical gateway to discern karma’s continuity and the need for liberation.

Application: Keep death-awareness (maraṇa-smṛti) to prioritize sādhana; study post-death teachings to reduce fear and strengthen ethical living and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.225.1 (three tāpas; jñāna-vairāgya leading to liberation); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections broadly (utkrānti, preta-journey, karma-phala)

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding the saṃsāra-cakra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that knowing the cycle of worldly existence—starting from the moment of death—supports the true puruṣārtha, enabling one’s life-goal to move toward absorption in the Paramātman.

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

It signals that the teaching begins at utkrānti-kāla (the soul’s departure from the body), implying that after-death stages are integral to understanding saṃsāra and orienting the seeker toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with the awareness of impermanence: align actions (dharma, self-discipline, devotion, and right knowledge) so that life’s purpose steadily turns toward realization of the Supreme Self rather than mere worldly aims.