Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

हरिं गायति दोलास्थं गीयमानालिभिः स्वयम् / ददर्श श्रीहरिं तत्र श्रीपतिं सात्वतां पतिम्

Transliteration

hariṃ gāyati dolāsthaṃ gīyamānālibhiḥ svayam / dadarśa śrīhariṃ tatra śrīpatiṃ sātvatāṃ patim

Translation

As he sang of Hari—seated upon a swing, while even the bees seemed to sing along—he beheld there Śrī Hari: the Lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī), the sovereign Lord of the Sātvatas, the devotees.

Word by Word

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गायति: sings (praises)
• गायति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दोलास्थम्: standing on a swing
• दोलास्थम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोलास्थ (प्रातिपदिक: दोला + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (दोलायाम् + स्थः)

• गीयमानालिभिः: by humming bees
• गीयमानालिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीयमान + अलि (कृदन्त + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (गीयमानाः अलयः = those bees that are singing/humming)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent-emphasis/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable: oneself)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• श्रीहरिम्: Śrī-Hari
• श्रीहरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् हरिः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: there)

• श्रीपतिम्: lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रीपतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रियाः पतिः)

• सात्वताम्: of the Sātvatas (devotees)
• सात्वताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• पतिम्: lord
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Garuda Purana’s Vishnu–Garuda framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-gāna and kīrtana lead to darśana; nature itself (bees) participates in praise, implying cosmic resonance with devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as the personal Absolute who grants pratyakṣa-anubhava (direct experience) to the devoted; bhakti as a means to realization.

Application: Practice kīrtana/japa with attentiveness; treat the environment as supportive of sādhana (listen, harmonize breath and mind, cultivate sattva).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: divine garden pavilion

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.1.15 (Śrī’s worship); Garuda Purana 2.1.17-19 (retinue and iconography of the Lord)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shri (Lakshmi)
• Sātvatas (Vaiṣṇava devotees)

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Hari’s name in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse frames devotion (singing of Hari) as a direct cause of divine presence—bhakti culminates in darśana (a sacred encounter), establishing the devotional basis underlying later teachings on death and the afterlife.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described in the Preta Kanda?

Before detailing post-death states, the text foregrounds Hari as the ultimate refuge; remembrance and praise of Viṣṇu are presented as spiritually elevating and protective principles that contextualize the later discussion of preta-mārga and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a daily practice of Hari-nāma (chanting/singing Vishnu’s names) and devotional remembrance, especially during life’s transitions—cultivating steadiness, ethical conduct, and a mind oriented toward the divine.