Shloka 27

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

इन्द्रलोकात्परिभ्रष्ट इह लोके नृपो भवेत् / सर्वोपस्करणोपेतं युवानं दोषवर्जितम्

Transliteration

indralokātparibhraṣṭa iha loke nṛpo bhavet / sarvopaskaraṇopetaṃ yuvānaṃ doṣavarjitam

Translation

Fallen from Indra’s heavenly realm, he is born here in the human world as a king—endowed with every requisite and resource, youthful, and free from defects.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रलोकात्: from Indra’s world (heaven)
• इन्द्रलोकात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य लोकः)

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen down, degraded
• परिभ्रष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि√भ्रंश् (धातु) → परिभ्रष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नृपः: a king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सर्वोपस्करणोपेतम्: endowed with all equipment
• सर्वोपस्करणोपेतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + उपस्करण + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् उपस्करणानाम् उपेतम्)

• युवानम्: a young man
• युवानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दोषवर्जितम्: free from faults
• दोषवर्जितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोष + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दोषैः वर्जितम्/दोषान् वर्जितम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit and demerit mature into specific births; even a fall from heaven can yield high human status when punya remains.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃsāra: embodied conditions are transient results, not the Self; prosperity is a contingent fruit of past action.

Application: Treat power, youth, and resources as karmic trusts; cultivate dharma and devotion rather than pride in fortune.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm; earthly kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/karma sections): descriptions of svarga-bhoga ending and return to martya-loka when merit is exhausted; Garuda Purana: dana-mahatmya passages linking gifts to svarga and royal birth

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

What does this verse teach about Indraloka and rebirth in the Garuda Purana?

It states that after the merit that grants residence in Indra’s heaven is exhausted, the soul returns to the human realm and may be born as a king—an outcome indicating strong prior punya.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after heavenly enjoyment?

The verse implies a cycle: one attains Svarga through merit, and when that status is lost (“fallen from Indraloka”), one takes a new human birth, here described as an auspicious royal embodiment with youth and completeness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use prosperity and status as instruments of dharma: cultivate merit through ethical conduct and generosity, and avoid pride—since even heavenly gains are temporary and lead back to human responsibility.