Shloka 2

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

यदुक्तं ब्राह्मणा पूर्वमनृतं तद्धि दृश्यते / वेदैरुक्तं तु यद्वाक्यं शतं जीवति मानुषे

Transliteration

yaduktaṃ brāhmaṇā pūrvamanṛtaṃ taddhi dṛśyate / vedairuktaṃ tu yadvākyaṃ śataṃ jīvati mānuṣe

Translation

What the brahmins formerly uttered as untruth is indeed seen to pass away; but the statement spoken in accordance with the Vedas lives on among humans for a hundred years.

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• उक्तम्: said, spoken
• उक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणा: by a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणा: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly, earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अनृतम्: untrue, false
• अनृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• दृश्यते: is seen, appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• वेदैः: by the Vedas
• वेदैः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• वाक्यम्: statement, sentence
• वाक्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शतम्: a hundred (years)
• शतम्: Karma (Measure/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानुषे: in a human (being)
• मानुषे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinguish unreliable, self-serving claims from Veda-grounded statements; śāstra-aligned speech has longevity and authority.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa (Veda) as a superior means of knowledge; satya-vāk as dharmic power.

Application: Evaluate teachings and advice by their alignment with reliable sources and ethical consistency; cultivate truthful speech and scriptural literacy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.24 framing: reliance on Vedic instruction to resolve doubt about death and remedies

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Vedas
• Manusya (humans)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vedic speech (vaidika-vākya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates Veda-aligned speech as enduring and reliable, implying that words grounded in śruti support dharma and remain influential, unlike false claims that fade.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife and ritual teachings?

In the Preta Kanda context, it reinforces why Vedic mantras and dharmic injunctions are trusted in rites for the departed—because Veda-rooted utterances are treated as stable authority for correct ritual and moral conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice truthfulness and avoid exaggeration in religious or social matters; rely on verified scripture-based guidance for rituals and ethics, and speak in ways that strengthen dharma rather than misinformation.