Shloka 52

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

रोम्णां कोट्यस्तथा तिस्रो ऽप्यर्धकोटि समन्विताः / द्वात्रिंशद्दशनाः प्रोक्ताः सामान्याद्विनतासुत

Transliteration

romṇāṃ koṭyastathā tisro 'pyardhakoṭi samanvitāḥ / dvātriṃśaddaśanāḥ proktāḥ sāmānyādvinatāsuta

Translation

O son of Vinatā (Garuda), speaking in general terms, it is said that the hairs of the body number three crores with an additional half-crore, and that the teeth are said to be thirty-two.

Word by Word

• रोम्णाम्: of hairs
• रोम्णाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• कोट्यः: crores (ten-millions)
• कोट्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता (number statement)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (also/likewise)

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• अर्ध-कोटि: half a crore
• अर्ध-कोटि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अर्धा कोटिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्या-परिमाण

• समन्विताः: combined/added
• समन्विताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृपूरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अन्-वि-इ (समन्वि/समन्वित) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘endowed/combined’

• द्वात्रिंशत्: thirty-two
• द्वात्रिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वा-त्रिंशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; विशेषण (thirty-two)

• दशनाः: teeth
• दशनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• प्रोक्ताः: are stated
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि—‘are declared’

• सामान्यात्: generally, as a common rule
• सामान्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वपादान (from general rule/commonly)

• विनता-सुत: O son of Vinatā (Garuda)
• विनता-सुत: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनता (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विनतायाः सुतः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body’s immense complexity and measurable structure; ‘general statement’ signals pedagogical approximation and systematic observation.

Vedantic Theme: The body as a vast, countable aggregate—supporting the insight that the Self is distinct from enumerated parts (neti-neti by implication).

Application: Use factual reflection to reduce body-obsession; appreciate complexity without attachment; maintain dental care and bodily grooming as responsible stewardship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: didactic discourse (teacher-to-Garuḍa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.50-51 (bodily impurities and origin)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Vinata

FAQs

What is the importance of describing the human body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses concrete bodily counts (hairs and teeth) to frame the body as a measurable, impermanent structure—supporting the text’s broader teaching that the soul’s journey is distinct from the physical form.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing the body’s finite components, the teaching prepares the listener to understand that after death the jīva proceeds with a different mode of existence, while the gross body is left behind.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and ethical living by remembering bodily form is temporary; prioritize dharma, remembrance of the divine, and sincere ritual intent over mere physical identity.