Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

गरुड उवाच / तव प्रसादाद्वैकुण्ठ त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्

Transliteration

garuḍa uvāca / tava prasādādvaikuṇṭha trailokyaṃ sacarācaram

Translation

Garuḍa said: By Your grace, O Vaikuṇṭha, the entire three worlds—everything moving and unmoving—are sustained and made possible.

Word by Word

• गरुडः: Garuḍa
• गरुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (उवाच इति कर्ता)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive pronoun)

• प्रसादात्: from (your) grace
• प्रसादात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (ablative: ‘due to/from’)

• वैकुण्ठ: O Vaikuṇṭha (Lord)
• वैकुण्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative) विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रीणि लोकानि)

• सचराचरम्: with the moving and the unmoving
• सचराचरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (चरं च अचरं च) + ‘स’ सहार्थक

Speaker

Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All worlds (moving and unmoving) are sustained by the Lord’s grace; the devotee recognizes dependence on Bhagavan.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara as jagat-adhara (support of the universe); grace as the operative principle behind capability and success.

Application: Reframe achievements as prasada; cultivate gratitude and responsibility; use daily remembrance (nama/smarana) to keep ego in check.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: divine abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vishnu as jagat-karta/adhara statements (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu (Vaikuntha)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the importance of divine grace (prasāda) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames Viṣṇu’s prasāda as the sustaining power behind all existence—setting a devotional foundation for the later afterlife instructions.

How does this verse connect to the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

Before describing preta states, rites, and Yama’s realm, Garuḍa acknowledges Viṣṇu as the ultimate refuge and regulator of the cosmos, implying that liberation and protection depend on divine order and grace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and devotion: begin rituals and ethical choices with remembrance that life and order are upheld by a higher dharmic principle, strengthening sincerity in śrāddha, charity, and self-discipline.