Shloka 19

Devanagari script

पितृमातृमयो बाल्ये यौवने दयितामयः / पुत्रपौत्रमयश्चान्ते मूढो नात्ममयः क्वचित्

Transliteration

pitṛmātṛmayo bālye yauvane dayitāmayaḥ / putrapautramayaścānte mūḍho nātmamayaḥ kvacit

Translation

In childhood one is absorbed in father and mother; in youth one is absorbed in the beloved; and in the end one is absorbed in sons and grandsons. Deluded, one is never—at any time—absorbed in the Self.

Word by Word

• पितृमातृमयः: absorbed in parents
• पितृमातृमयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (पितृ-मातृ-सम्बन्धेन मयः = ‘made/filled with parents’)

• बाल्ये: in childhood
• बाल्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यौवने: in youth
• यौवने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दयितामयः: absorbed in the beloved (wife)
• दयितामयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयिता (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (दयिता-सम्बन्धेन मयः)

• पुत्रपौत्रमयः: absorbed in sons and grandsons
• पुत्रपौत्रमयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पौत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अन्ते: at the end (of life)
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; ‘अन्ते’ = ‘at the end’

• मूढः: deluded
• मूढः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक; हन्/मुह् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• आत्ममयः: absorbed in the Self
• आत्ममयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (आत्म-सम्बन्धेन मयः)

• क्वचित्: ever/at any time
• क्वचित्: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avidyā: identification with relational roles across life eclipses ātma-vicāra; one rarely abides as the Self.

Vedantic Theme: Anātma-adhyāsa (superimposition on non-Self) and the need for ātma-smṛti/ātma-niṣṭhā.

Application: Daily self-inquiry, meditation, and remembrance practices; balance duties with inner awareness; periodically review attachments at each life stage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on vairagya and the urgency of ātma-jñāna amid worldly ties

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Parents
• Beloved (spouse)
• Sons and grandsons

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (vairagya) in Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that people habitually cling to relationships through every life-stage, but neglect self-knowledge; detachment is urged so the mind turns toward the Atman rather than only worldly bonds.

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

By highlighting lifelong absorption in others instead of the Self, it implies that at death the untrained mind remains bound to attachments—hindering clarity and spiritual readiness for the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Fulfill duties to family, but daily cultivate remembrance of the Atman through japa, charity, and ethical living, so identity is not limited to roles (child, spouse, parent) when facing death.