Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

अतः सुकृतिनां लोको न भूतो न भविष्यति

Transliteration

ataḥ sukṛtināṃ loko na bhūto na bhaviṣyati

Translation

Therefore, the realm attained by the meritorious is unrivalled—none like it has existed before, nor will any arise in the future.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (Cause marker/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; हेत्वर्थक-अव्ययम् (therefore/from this reason)

• सुकृतिनाम्: of the meritorious (virtuous)
• सुकृतिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रादि) + कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; 'सुकृतिन्' = पुण्यकर्मयुक्तः

• लोकः: world/realm
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• भूतः: has been (past)
• भूतः: Kriya (Predicative verbal idea/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) → भूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूत (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'भूतः' = जातः/अभूत् (as predicate: has been)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrī Viṣṇu) speaking to Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sukṛta (merit) yields an unsurpassed attainment; moral causality is reliable and exalted.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as orderly; yet the verse can also be read as praising the unique opportunity/attainment connected with righteous life that culminates in higher good.

Application: Accumulate merit through dāna, satya, ahiṁsā, and devotion; choose actions with long-term spiritual consequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: state/attainment

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis that sukṛta supports auspicious gati and protection in the post-death journey

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Sukritin (the meritorious)

FAQs

What is the importance of merit (sukṛti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that sukṛti (good deeds) leads to an exceptional post-death realm, presented as incomparable across time, underscoring the primacy of ethical and dharmic action.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It indicates that the soul’s destination is shaped by karma: those rich in merit attain a superior loka, contrasting with the punitive or transitional paths described elsewhere in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize dharma—truthfulness, charity, restraint, and service—since sustained sukṛti is portrayed as the decisive cause for an elevated post-death state.