Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तदहं कृष्णगरुडसंवादद्वारकं द्विजाः / अपाकरिष्ये सन्देहं भवतां भावितात्मनाम्

Transliteration

tadahaṃ kṛṣṇagaruḍasaṃvādadvārakaṃ dvijāḥ / apākariṣye sandehaṃ bhavatāṃ bhāvitātmanām

Translation

Therefore, O twice-born sages, by means of this dialogue between Krishna and Garuda, I shall remove the doubts of you who are purified and disciplined in mind.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अन्वयार्थे ‘that (matter)’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• कृष्णगरुडसंवादद्वारकम्: by means of the Kṛṣṇa–Garuḍa dialogue
• कृष्णगरुडसंवादद्वारकम्: Karana (करण/Instrument - expressed via adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘कृष्ण-गरुडयोः संवादः तस्य द्वारकम्/द्वारा’ = ‘by means of the dialogue of Kṛṣṇa and Garuḍa’ (instrumental sense conveyed adjectivally)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative sense)

• अपाकरिष्ये: I will remove
• अपाकरिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-आ-कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सन्देहम्: doubt
• सन्देहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भवताम्: of you
• भवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भावितात्मनाम्: of you whose minds are cultivated
• भावितात्मनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; भू धातोः क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘भावितः आत्मा येषाम्’ (sense: those whose selves are cultivated)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) addressing the assembled Dvijas (sages)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṁśaya is removed by pramāṇa-bearing saṁvāda (authoritative dialogue) transmitted to qualified listeners (bhāvitātman).

Vedantic Theme: Guru-śiṣya/saṁvāda method; śraddhā and mental purification as prerequisites for knowledge.

Application: Seek structured teachings from reliable lineages/texts; cultivate mental discipline to receive and integrate subtle doctrines.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred narrative locus / pedagogical gateway

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Krishna–Garuda saṁvāda as the backbone of Pretakalpa exposition (opening frame)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Garuda
• Dvijas

FAQs

What is the importance of the Krishna–Garuda dialogue in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the text as an authoritative teaching delivered through the Krishna–Garuda conversation, presented specifically to dispel sincere seekers’ doubts about dharma and post-death matters.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it announces that the coming instruction (through Krishna and Garuda) is meant to clarify uncertainties—setting up later explanations about the soul’s post-death journey and related rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach teachings on death, rites, and ethics with a disciplined mind and seek clear scriptural guidance to remove confusion before acting—especially in matters of duty and ritual.