Shloka 10

Gāyatrī-nyāsa, Pāda-bheda, and Purificatory Power in Sādhana

Devanagari script

शङ्खवर्णं पाण्डुरं च रक्तं चासवसन्निभम् / अर्कवर्णसमं सौम्यं शङ्खाभं श्वेतमेव च

Transliteration

śaṅkhavarṇaṃ pāṇḍuraṃ ca raktaṃ cāsavasannibham / arkavarṇasamaṃ saumyaṃ śaṅkhābhaṃ śvetameva ca

Translation

“It appears conch-colored; pale; red like fermented liquor; gentle, like the hue of the sun; conch-like—and indeed white as well.”

Word by Word

• शङ्खवर्णम्: conch-colored
• शङ्खवर्णम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; शङ्खस्य वर्णः इति

• पाण्डुरम्: pale/whitish
• पाण्डुरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• आसवसन्निभम्: resembling wine/ferment
• आसवसन्निभम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसव + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; आसवस्य सन्निभम् (like liquor)

• अर्कवर्णसमम्: equal to the sun’s color
• अर्कवर्णसमम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क + वर्ण + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अर्कस्य वर्णेन समम् (equal to the sun’s color)

• सौम्यम्: gentle/pleasant
• सौम्यम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शङ्खाभम्: conch-like in appearance
• शङ्खाभम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; शङ्ख इव आभा यस्य (conch-like appearance)

• श्वेतम्: white
• श्वेतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/Restriction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (restrictive particle)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious color-forms (śaṅkha-śveta, arka-varṇa) as devotional supports, linking mantra to Vaiṣṇava emblems and tejas.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana: using auspicious forms to steady the mind and incline it toward the divine.

Application: While reciting, visualize conch-white purity and sun-like warmth as inner cleansing and clarity; avoid agitation (saumya-bhāva).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner-vision field (color contemplation)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35.8–9 (color sequences); Garuda Purana Vaiṣṇava emblem contexts elsewhere (śaṅkha symbolism, general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of color descriptions in Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific hues as diagnostic signs—used in the text to indicate different states or appearances of the subtle form (preta/linga-śarīra) during the post-death journey.

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

By describing the subtle form’s changing appearance, the Garuda Purana frames the after-death passage as an experiential journey where the preta’s condition can be characterized through observable signs like color and radiance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages mindful performance of death rites and ethical living, since the tradition links post-death condition with one’s karma and the supportive role of proper śrāddha and related observances.