Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

सुरासुरार्चिता यत्र गणा विष्णोः सुपेशसः / पिशङ्गवस्त्राभारणा मणियुङ्निष्कभूषिताः

Transliteration

surāsurārcitā yatra gaṇā viṣṇoḥ supeśasaḥ / piśaṅgavastrābhāraṇā maṇiyuṅniṣkabhūṣitāḥ

Translation

There, the splendidly formed attendants of Lord Viṣṇu—revered by both the Devas and the Asuras—are seen, clad in tawny-golden garments and ornaments, adorned with jeweled necklaces and decorative gold pendants.

Word by Word

• सुर-असुर-अर्चिताः: worshipped by gods and demons
• सुर-असुर-अर्चिताः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण (of gaṇāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चित (√अर्च् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘सुरैः असुरैः अर्चिताः’)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• गणाः: attendant hosts
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सु-पेशसः: of splendid form
• सु-पेशसः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण (of gaṇāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पेशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (‘सुन्दरं पेशः येषाम्’)

• पिशङ्ग-वस्त्र-आभरणाः: with tawny garments and ornaments
• पिशङ्ग-वस्त्र-आभरणाः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (descriptive: ‘पिशङ्गानि वस्त्राणि आभरणानि च येषाम्’—bahu-descriptor usage)

• मणि-युक्त-निष्क-भूषिताः: adorned with gem-set niṣkas
• मणि-युक्त-निष्क-भूषिताः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (√युज् धातु + क्त) + निष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (√भूष् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (ornamented with niṣkas set with gems)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s attendants are supremely beautiful and honored across cosmic factions, reflecting the Lord’s unrivaled sovereignty and auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Aiśvarya (divine lordship) as a support for bhakti; the idea that proximity to the Lord confers splendor and honor.

Application: Strengthen devotion by contemplating the Lord’s aiśvarya and the sanctity of His service; adopt ‘sevā-bhāva’ (service attitude) as a spiritual discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: divine court/assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: descriptions of Viṣṇu’s attendants and Vaikuṇṭha ornamentation motifs

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas (Suras)
• Asuras
• Vishnu-gana (divine attendants)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s attendants in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that Viṣṇu’s divine retinue is honored even by Devas and Asuras, emphasizing Viṣṇu’s supreme station and the protective, auspicious nature of His realm.

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

By depicting Viṣṇu’s splendid attendants and their revered status, the text contrasts divine refuge with fearful after-death states, implying that devotion and dharma orient the soul toward higher, protected realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and Viṣṇu-bhakti—through ethical living, remembrance, and prayer—so the mind is trained toward auspicious states rather than fear and confusion at life’s end.