Shloka 28

Devanagari script

सा (स) तेन भावयोगेन पुत्त्रास्तत्कर्मकारिणः / पितृरूपं समादाय कस्यचिज्जायते सुतः

Transliteration

sā (sa) tena bhāvayogena puttrāstatkarmakāriṇaḥ / pitṛrūpaṃ samādāya kasyacijjāyate sutaḥ

Translation

By that very power of bhāva-yoga—the subtle linkage of intention—sons are born to carry out those deeds in accordance with karma; and, taking on the father’s form, a son is born to someone.

Word by Word

• सा: that (she/that nature)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; अन्वयः—‘सा (प्रकृतिः)’

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• भाव-योगेन: by the connection/union of disposition
• भाव-योगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भावस्य योगः)

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• तत्-कर्म-कारिणः: doers of that (same) action/karma
• तत्-कर्म-कारिणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तत् कर्म करोति इति)

• पितृ-रूपम्: the father’s form
• पितृ-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पितुः रूपम्)

• सम्-आदाय: having assumed/taken
• सम्-आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ√दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थक अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया—‘having taken/assuming’

• कस्यचित्: of someone
• कस्यचित्: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite ‘of someone’)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सुतः: a son
• सुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Through subtle intentional linkage (bhāva-yoga) and karmic continuity, offspring arise who perform requisite acts; resemblance and role-fulfillment reflect deeper saṃskāra connections.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra shaping embodiment; apparent personal continuity as a function of subtle causality, not ultimate division of Self.

Application: Cultivate wholesome intentions and conduct (bhāva) since subtle dispositions propagate through family systems; encourage children toward dharmic acts rather than mere external resemblance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: teaching setting (upadeśa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: themes of putra as performer of śrāddha and carrier of obligations; subtle causality in rebirth narratives

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of bhāva-yoga in this Garuda Purana verse?

It highlights that a subtle force of intention/inner disposition can create a karmic linkage by which a son arises and becomes the doer of the duties (especially ancestral rites) connected with the father and lineage.

How does this verse connect a son’s birth with Pitri obligations like Śrāddha?

By saying “sons become performers of those acts,” the verse frames sonship as tied to carrying out prescribed karmas—classically including śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna that support the pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate responsible intention and fulfill family and ancestral duties—through ethical living and, where practiced, timely śrāddha/piṇḍa offerings—seeing them as continuity of dharma rather than mere custom.