Shloka 76

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

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

Devanagari script

नार कांश्चैव सम्प्रेक्ष्य महद्दुः खमवाप्यते / एवं गतिमहं गन्तेत्यहर्निशमनिर्वृतः

Transliteration

nāra kāṃścaiva samprekṣya mahadduḥ khamavāpyate / evaṃ gatimahaṃ gantetyaharniśamanirvṛtaḥ

Translation

Seeing certain men in such a condition, one is seized by great sorrow. Thinking, “I too must go to such a state,” he remains day and night without peace.

Word by Word

• नारकान्: hell-beings (denizens of hell)
• नारकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having observed
• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + √ईक्ष्/प्रेक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen/after observing’

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (दुःखम्)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (Subject in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपे (with passive)

• अवाप्यते: is experienced/obtained
• अवाप्यते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘is obtained/experienced’)

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Prakāra (Manner adjunct/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक/adverb of manner)

• गतिम्: state/condition/destination
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (गन्तेः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• गन्ता: (am) going to go / will go
• गन्ता: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) तृ-प्रत्यय (कर्तरि तृन्), कृदन्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि-कर्तृवाचक (agent noun: ‘one who will go’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/quotative)

• अहर्निशम्: day and night/constantly
• अहर्निशम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे नित्यसमासवत् अव्यय (द्वन्द्व-समासः: अहः + निशम्; अर्थे ‘day and night’ = always)

• अनिर्वृतः: unrelieved/without peace
• अनिर्वृतः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वृत (√वृत्/√वृ (धातु) नि-उपसर्ग, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + अ- (निषेध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (अहम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of others’ suffering produces saṃvega (spiritual urgency) and vairāgya; recognition ‘I too may go there’ spurs transformation.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha-darśana leading to viveka and vairāgya; saṃsāra-bhaya as a catalyst for mumukṣutva.

Application: Use encounters with suffering (illness, aging, death, injustice) as prompts for ethical living, inner discipline, and devotion rather than despair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: exhortations to reflect on naraka and impermanence to cultivate detachment

Characters & Entities

• Nara (human beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of contemplating death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that witnessing human suffering can awaken a sober awareness—‘I too must face such a state’—which encourages detachment and a turn toward dharma.

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

It frames the after-death journey as a ‘gati’ (destiny/state) that one must inevitably undergo, producing inner unrest until one aligns life with right conduct and spiritual preparation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use mortality as a daily reminder to reduce harmful actions, cultivate compassion, and prioritize dharmic living so the mind is not ‘anirvṛta’ (restless) with fear and regret.