Shloka 48

Kailāsa-darśana, Badarī-vāsa, and Sarasvatī–Dvaitavana Transition (कैलासदर्शन–बदरीवास–सरस्वतीद्वैतवनगमनम्)

Devanagari script

शालावृकाण्णा प्रेतानां भुरुण्डानां च सर्वशः गृध्राणां गरुडानां च चमराणां तथैव च

Transliteration

śālāvṛkāṇṇā pretānāṃ bhuruṇḍānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | gṛdhrāṇāṃ garuḍānāṃ ca camarāṇāṃ tathaiva ca ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “(I see) everywhere jackals, hosts of spirits of the dead, and bhuruṇḍas; likewise vultures and garuḍas, and also chamaras.”

Word by Word

• शालावृकाणाम्: of jackals
• शालावृकाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालावृक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रेतानाम्: of spirits/ghosts
• प्रेतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भुरुण्डानाम्: of bhuruṇḍas (a class of beings/birds)
• भुरुण्डानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुरुण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वशः: everywhere; in every way; all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशस्

• गृध्राणाम्: of vultures
• गृध्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• गरुडानाम्: of garuḍas/eagles
• गरुडानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चमराणाम्: of chamaras (yak/chauri-bearers; or yaks)
• चमराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• तथा: likewise; so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• śālāvṛka (jackals)
• preta (departed spirits)
• bhuruṇḍa
• gṛdhra (vultures)
• garuḍa
• chamara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a catalogue of ominous beings—scavengers and spirit-hosts—to convey foreboding. Ethically, it highlights the need for discernment: appearances and signs can signal danger, prompting vigilance and right action rather than panic.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports what he perceives around him: jackals, pretas, bhuruṇḍas, vultures, garuḍas, and chamaras appearing in all directions. The list functions as an atmospheric omen-description, intensifying the sense of an uncanny or threatening situation.