Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

नमः कृष्णाय मुनये य एनं समुपाश्रिताः / अञ्जस्तरन्ति संसारसागरं कुनदीमिव

Transliteration

namaḥ kṛṣṇāya munaye ya enaṃ samupāśritāḥ / añjastaranti saṃsārasāgaraṃ kunadīmiva

Translation

Salutations to the sage Krishna; those who take refuge in him swiftly cross the ocean of worldly existence, as though it were but a small stream.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (elliptic act of salutation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नमस्कारवाचक

• कृष्णाय: to Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• मुनये: to the sage
• मुनये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; कृष्णस्य विशेषणार्थे अपि

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समुपाश्रिताः: having taken refuge (in)
• समुपाश्रिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-श्रि (धातु) → आश्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having taken refuge’

• अञ्जस्: easily; straightaway
• अञ्जस्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अञ्जस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘straight/easily’

• तरन्ति: cross
• तरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• संसारसागरम्: the ocean of worldly existence
• संसारसागरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘संसारस्य सागरः’

• कुनदीम्: a small river
• कुनदीम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु-नदी (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्ग ‘कु’ = ‘small/poor’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-suchaka (उपमासूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

Speaker

Narrator/Compiler (mangalācaraṇa/invocation before the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati to Krishna enables rapid crossing of saṁsāra; grace makes the seemingly insurmountable easy.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha and bhakti as a direct means to saṁsāra-taraṇa; nāma/āśraya as upāya.

Application: Adopt daily refuge-practice: praṇāma, remembrance, and reliance on Krishna in adversity; interpret life’s trials as crossable through devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: metaphysical landscape

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on Viṣṇu-bhakti and nāma as deliverance (bhakti sections and Pretakalpa consolations)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Muni

FAQs

What is the importance of taking refuge (śaraṇāgati) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents refuge in the realized teacher (here, Krishna Muni) as a direct means to cross saṃsāra swiftly, emphasizing inner surrender alongside outer rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By likening saṃsāra to an ocean, it implies the soul’s repeated birth-death journey is vast and perilous, yet becomes easily crossable through true reliance on liberating wisdom and devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily remembrance, study, and disciplined living under authentic guidance; let devotion and ethical conduct reduce fear and attachment, supporting a peaceful life and death.