Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

स्वरूपेरममाणं तमीश्वरं विनतासुतः / तद्दर्शनाह्लादयुतस्वान्तो हृष्यत्तनूरुहः

Transliteration

svarūperamamāṇaṃ tamīśvaraṃ vinatāsutaḥ / taddarśanāhlādayutasvānto hṛṣyattanūruhaḥ

Translation

Vinatā’s son, Garuḍa, beheld the Lord, delighting in His own divine nature; and, gladdened within by that vision, he thrilled—his bodily hairs standing on end.

Word by Word

• स्वरूपे: in (his) own form
• स्वरूपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रममाणम्: delighting (himself)
• रममाणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘enjoying/delighting’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनतासुतः: Vinata’s son (Garuḍa)
• विनतासुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनता (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विनतायाः सुतः)

• तत्: of that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-सम्बन्धः)

• दर्शन: seeing
• दर्शन: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• आह्लाद: joy
• आह्लाद: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• युत: endowed with
• युत: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; युज्/यु धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘युक्त’ अर्थे; प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• स्वान्तः: whose inner mind
• स्वान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य अन्तः = अन्तःकरणम्)

• हृष्यत्: rejoicing
• हृष्यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘thrilling/rejoicing’

• तनूरुहः: with hairs standing on end (gooseflesh)
• तनूरुहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनू (प्रातिपदिक) + रुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तन्वाः रुहाः = रोमाञ्चः/रोमाणि)

Speaker

Narrator (describing Garuda’s reaction upon seeing Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darshana of the Lord produces ananda and sattvic bodily signs (romaharsha) in the devotee.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavan as svayam-prakasha; bhakti as direct experiential confirmation beyond mere conceptual knowledge.

Application: Cultivate smarana/dhyana and satsanga so that devotion becomes felt experience; recognize devotional symptoms as softening of ahamkara, not as ego-display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: divine abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vishnu-bhakti passages describing darshana, stuti, and devotional bodily signs (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Lord Vishnu (Ishvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-darśana (vision of Vishnu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching as sacred instruction received in a state of devotion: Garuda’s joyful, awe-filled response indicates that the afterlife teachings are grounded in divine reality and meant to be heard with reverence.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s account of the soul’s journey after death?

It sets the narrative stage: Garuda, moved by Vishnu’s presence, is prepared to ask and receive precise guidance about post-death states, rites, and the consequences of karma that the Preta Kanda will describe.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach teachings on death, rites, and ethics with humility and devotion; inner receptivity (svānta-prasāda) helps one live more dharmically and prepare responsibly for end-of-life duties and ancestral rites.