Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

प्राप्ते काले वै म्रियते अनित्या मानवाः प्रभो

Transliteration

prāpte kāle vai mriyate anityā mānavāḥ prabho

Translation

When the destined time arrives, human beings surely die; O Lord, mortals are impermanent.

Word by Word

• प्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• प्राप्ते: अधिकरण (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) — पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; (काले इति) ‘when (the time) has arrived’

• काले: at the time
• काले: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/खलु-अर्थक (indeed/emphatic particle)

• म्रियते: dies
• म्रियते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अनित्याः: impermanent
• अनित्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; (मानवाः इति)

• मानवाः: humans
• मानवाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anityatā: death occurs when time ripens; human life is impermanent and conditioned.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) and vairāgya (dispassion) arising from contemplation of mortality; kāla as governing condition of embodied life.

Application: Use awareness of impermanence to prioritize dharma, reconciliation, and spiritual practice; reduce procrastination and attachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: impermanence as motivation for śrāddha and for seeking right conduct before death

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Humans (Manava)

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence (anityatā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that death is inevitable at the destined time, encouraging detachment and timely performance of dharma and death-related duties.

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

By affirming that death comes at the appointed time, it sets the premise for the Preta Kanda’s later instructions on post-death rites and the soul’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with awareness of mortality: practice ethical conduct, reduce harmful attachments, and responsibly plan for end-of-life rites and charitable acts.