Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

लोकांल्लोकयता लोके जगाहे विश्वमण्डलम् / तत्राजनि जनान्दृष्ट्वा दुः खेष्वेव निमज्जतः

Transliteration

lokāṃllokayatā loke jagāhe viśvamaṇḍalam / tatrājani janāndṛṣṭvā duḥ kheṣveva nimajjataḥ

Translation

Moving through the world and beholding its many realms, he entered the cosmic sphere; and there, seeing the people, he found them sinking—utterly immersed—only in suffering.

Word by Word

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• लोकयता: by (one) observing/looking at
• लोकयता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √लोकय्/लोक् caus.)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्तृ-विशेषण)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जगाहे: entered/plunged into
• जगाहे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गाह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• विश्वमण्डलम्: the cosmic sphere/universe-circle
• विश्वमण्डलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adverbial (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अजनि: arose/was born
• अजनि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-प्रयोगभेद (here: intransitive ‘was born/arose’)

• जनान्: people
• जनान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• दुःखेषु: in sufferings
• दुःखेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• निमज्जतः: of (those) sinking/submerging
• निमज्जतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + मज्ज् (धातु) → निमज्जत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; जनानाम् इति शेषः (of people who are sinking)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra in the Preta Kanda discourse)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Across realms, beings remain immersed in suffering; mere relocation within saṃsāra does not end duḥkha—liberation requires a deeper remedy.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as pervasive duḥkha; vairāgya arising from direct perception of suffering; impetus toward mokṣa-sādhana.

Application: Use contemplation of universal suffering to cultivate detachment and compassion; prioritize practices aimed at liberation (bhakti/jñāna) over status or pleasure-seeking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa cosmography and descriptions of lokas and the soul’s journey (broad internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Janas (people/creatures)
• Loka (realms)
• Vishva-mandala (cosmic sphere)

FAQs

What is the importance of seeing beings 'immersed in suffering' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Preta Kanda’s core message: worldly and otherworldly experiences are pervaded by duḥkha when driven by karma and ignorance, motivating dharma, śrāddha, and liberation-seeking conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It depicts a journey of observation through lokas (realms), implying that the jīva’s post-death passage reveals the consequences of karma—many beings are seen overwhelmed by suffering rather than peace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma and restraint, reduce harm and greed, and support rites like śrāddha/charity with sincerity—so one’s trajectory is not dominated by duḥkha but oriented toward clarity and release.