Shloka 10

Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey

Devanagari script

स पातालं भुवं स्वर्गं भ्रान्त्वालब्धशमाशयः / लोकदुः खेनातिदुः खी पुनर्वैकुण्ठमागमत्

Transliteration

sa pātālaṃ bhuvaṃ svargaṃ bhrāntvālabdhaśamāśayaḥ / lokaduḥ khenātiduḥ khī punarvaikuṇṭhamāgamat

Translation

Having wandered through Pātāla, the earthly realm, and heaven, yet finding no resting-place of peace, he was deeply afflicted by the sorrow of the worlds and returned again to Vaikuṇṭha.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पातालम्: the netherworld (Pātāla)
• पातालम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भुवम्: the earth/world
• भुवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुव्/भू (प्रातिपदिक; ‘earth/world’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven (Svarga)
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भ्रान्त्वा: having wandered
• भ्रान्त्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having wandered/roamed’

• अलब्ध-शम-आशयः: whose abode of peace was not attained (unpacified)
• अलब्ध-शम-आशयः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लब्ध (√लभ् धातु + क्त, नञ्-पूर्वक) + शम (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘शमस्य आशयः’ (abode/seat of peace) इति, ‘अलब्धः शमाशयः यस्य’ इत्यर्थे विशेषणवत् प्रयोगः

• लोक-दुःखेन: by the suffering of the world
• लोक-दुःखेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘लोकस्य दुःखम्’)

• अति-दुःखी: extremely sorrowful
• अति-दुःखी: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुःखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अत्यन्तं दुःखी’ इति कर्मधारय-समास

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वैकुण्ठम्: Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आगमत्: returned/came
• आगमत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All traversed worlds fail to grant lasting śama; true peace is found only in the Lord’s abode (or in liberation).

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-duḥkha and the turn toward the unconditioned (nirupādhi-śānti); implicit vairāgya leading to śaraṇāgati.

Application: Cultivate discernment that pleasures/achievements across ‘higher’ states still lack lasting peace; practice remembrance and surrender to Viṣṇu as the stable refuge.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realms (lokas)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: recurring contrast of saṃsāra vs. Viṣṇu-loka/parama-pada; Garuda Purana: Vaikuṇṭha descriptions in Viṣṇu-bhakti sections

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuntha
• Svarga
• Patala
• Bhu-loka

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Pātāla, Bhū-loka, and Svarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that even traversing multiple realms does not guarantee peace; it points the seeker toward the highest refuge—Vaikuṇṭha—beyond worldly and heavenly experiences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul across different worlds?

It presents a movement through lower (Pātāla), middle (earth), and higher (Svarga) realms, emphasizing that without inner liberation (śama), the soul remains dissatisfied and seeks the supreme abode.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from status, pleasure, and even “heavenly” rewards; prioritize inner peace, devotion, and ethical living as the stable path toward lasting freedom.