Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

एकदा वैनतेयस्य लोकानां लोकनस्पृहा / बभूव सो ऽथ बभ्राम तेषु नाम हरेर्गृणन्

Transliteration

ekadā vainateyasya lokānāṃ lokanaspṛhā / babhūva so 'tha babhrāma teṣu nāma harergṛṇan

Translation

Once, Vainateya (Garuda) developed a strong longing to see the various worlds. Then he wandered through them, continually chanting the name of Hari (Vishnu).

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय; एक + दा)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• वैनतेयस्य: of Vainateya (Garuḍa)
• वैनतेयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• लोकनः: of seeing/observing (the worlds)
• लोकनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘लोकन’ = ‘seeing/observing’ (rare nominal)

• स्पृहा: desire; longing
• स्पृहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बभूव: arose; became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (conjunction/adverb)

• बभ्राम: wandered
• बभ्राम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तेषु: in them (in those worlds)
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• नाम: indeed
• नाम: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘indeed/forsooth’

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• गृणन्: praising; singing (the praises)
• गृणन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गॄ (धातु) → गृणत् (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि

Speaker

Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework; verse describes Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even while moving through diverse realms, remembrance/chanting of Hari sanctifies experience; curiosity is elevated when yoked to devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma as constant support (ālambana) across changing states; devotion stabilizes the mind amid multiplicity (nāmarūpa).

Application: Keep a steady spiritual practice (japa/kīrtana) while engaging the world—travel, work, and learning become sādhana when anchored in remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic worlds

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: cosmographic passages and loka descriptions that follow from Garuda’s desire to see worlds; Garuda Purana: emphasis on Hari-nāma as purifier and protector in multiple contexts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vainateya)
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Hari’s name in this verse of the Garuda Purana?

The verse presents Hari-nāma as Garuda’s constant support while moving through different realms, implying spiritual protection and steadiness even when traversing unfamiliar worlds.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes about different worlds (lokas)?

It sets a narrative bridge into descriptions of multiple realms by stating that Garuda developed the desire to see the lokas and then traveled among them, preparing for cosmological and afterlife-related exposition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain remembrance or recitation of the Divine Name during transitions, uncertainty, or travel—using devotion as an anchor for ethical clarity and inner composure.