Shloka 153
Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga
Path to Yama
जीवन् पुत्रकलत्रादिप्रदिष्टमितरैः खग / यो न साधयति स्वार्थमेवं पश्चाद्धिखिद्यते
jīvan putrakalatrādipradiṣṭamitaraiḥ khaga / yo na sādhayati svārthamevaṃ paścāddhikhidyate
Ô Garuḍa, celui qui, de son vivant, n’accomplit pas son véritable but—bien qu’averti par son fils, son épouse et les autres—tombe ensuite, en vérité, dans le regret et la peine.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Human life must be used to accomplish one’s true purpose (svārtha/puruṣārtha); ignoring wise counsel leads to post-facto sorrow.
Vedantic Theme: Kāla (time) and anityatā; urgency of sādhana before prāṇa departs; viveka leading to vairāgya.
Application: Heed dharmic counsel from well-wishers; set priorities (dharma, inner growth, remembrance of Hari) rather than postponing essential duties.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring admonitions on not delaying śrāddha/dāna/sādhana until death approaches; Garuda Purana: dialogues where Garuḍa is addressed as ‘khaga’ and warned about human procrastination
FAQs
This verse stresses urgency: spiritual and ethical aims must be pursued while alive; otherwise, one is left with remorse when time and capacity are lost.
Preta Kanda repeatedly warns that after death the jīva faces consequences and helplessness; therefore, the time for dharma, right conduct, and preparation is the living state.
Don’t postpone essential duties—practice dharma, self-discipline, and remembrance of mortality now, even if family counsel is already pointing you toward what is truly beneficial.