Shloka 16

Devanagari script

तस्य पुत्रसहस्रं तु वैरण्यां समपद्यत / नारदोक्ता भुवश्चान्तं गता ज्ञातुं च नागताः

Transliteration

tasya putrasahasraṃ tu vairaṇyāṃ samapadyata / nāradoktā bhuvaścāntaṃ gatā jñātuṃ ca nāgatāḥ

Translation

His thousand sons entered the region of Vairaṇyā. Urged by Nārada, they went to seek the end of the worlds, but they did not return.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुत्रसहस्रम्: a thousand sons
• पुत्रसहस्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुत्राणां सहस्रम्)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक (particle)

• वैरण्याम्: in Vairaṇyā
• वैरण्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (स्थान/नदी/क्षेत्र-नाम)

• समपद्यत: came into being / was born
• समपद्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• नारदोक्ता: told by Nārada
• नारदोक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, वच्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नारदेन उक्ताः); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• भुवः: of the world / of the earth
• भुवः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुव्/भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुवस्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (भुवः = पृथिव्याः/लोकस्य)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्तम्: end, limit
• अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गताः: having gone
• गताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• आगताः: returned / came back
• आगताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inquiry into the ‘end of the worlds’ symbolizes metaphysical investigation; Nārada often redirects progeny from procreation to renunciation/knowledge, dissolving worldly continuity.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and the futility of seeking ultimate limits in the finite; turning from prapañca to tattva-jñāna.

Application: Channel curiosity toward self-inquiry; recognize when pursuits become endless; balance worldly duties with genuine spiritual investigation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: region/realm-borderland

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Nārada as instigator of renunciation and cosmic redirection in genealogical narratives

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vairanya
• Putras (sons)

FAQs

What is the importance of seeking the 'end of the worlds' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames it as an extreme quest prompted by Nārada—highlighting the vastness of creation and the limits of ordinary beings when pursuing cosmic endpoints.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it contrasts outward, cosmic searching with the implied need for right knowledge—showing that mere travel or inquiry into cosmic limits can end in disappearance rather than liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize inner discipline and dharmic living over obsessive speculation; spiritual progress comes from practice and insight, not only from chasing grand, unbounded questions.