Shloka 83

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

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

Devanagari script

गरुड उवाच / मध्ये कृतमहाप्रश्रद्वयस्याप्तं मयोत्तरम् / प्रश्रस्यापि तृतीयस्य उत्तरं च विधीयताम्

Transliteration

garuḍa uvāca / madhye kṛtamahāpraśradvayasyāptaṃ mayottaram / praśrasyāpi tṛtīyasya uttaraṃ ca vidhīyatām

Translation

Garuḍa said: “In the midst of our discourse, I have already received from You the answer to the two great questions. Now, let the answer to the third question also be set forth.”

Word by Word

• गरुडः: Garuda
• गरुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (locative adverbial)

• कृत: made, done
• कृत: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (समासान्ते)

• महाप्रश्न: great question
• महाप्रश्न: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (समासान्ते)

• द्वयस्य: of the pair (two)
• द्वयस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आप्तम्: obtained, reached
• आप्तम्: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• उत्तरम्: answer
• उत्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रश्नस्य: of the question
• प्रश्नस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थ

• तृतीयस्य: of the third
• तृतीयस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण

• उत्तरम्: answer
• उत्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विधीयताम्: let it be prescribed/ordained
• विधीयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) उपसर्ग-वि + यक् (कर्मणि)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Garuḍa (Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper sequencing of questions and authoritative exposition (praśna–uttara) as a dharmic method of learning.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa (listening) as the gateway to right knowledge and right action.

Application: Approach end-of-life and ritual topics through structured inquiry; receive instructions in order without haste.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue-setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.84–87 (immediately following: mriyamāṇa-kṛtya instructions)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Garuḍa’s “third question” in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse marks a transition in the dialogue structure: Garuḍa signals that two major doubts have been resolved and requests the next (third) doctrinal explanation, guiding the text’s step-by-step teaching method.

How does this verse explain the teaching style of the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It shows a catechism-like format—questions posed by Garuḍa and systematic answers given by the teacher (typically Viṣṇu)—ensuring complex afterlife and dharma topics are addressed in an ordered sequence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach spiritual and ritual topics sequentially: clarify foundational questions first, then proceed to deeper ones—useful when learning about dharma, smrti-based rites, and ethical living.