Shloka 3

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

गुह्यद्गुह्यतरं तच्च नाख्यातं कस्यचित्क्वचित् / भक्तस्त्वं हि महाभाग वैनतेयं ब्रवीमि ते

Transliteration

guhyadguhyataraṃ tacca nākhyātaṃ kasyacitkvacit / bhaktastvaṃ hi mahābhāga vainateyaṃ bravīmi te

Translation

この教えは秘中の秘であり、いかなる時にも誰にも語られたことがない。だが汝は信愛（バクティ）を具える者、幸運きわまりないヴァイナテーヤ（ガルダ）よ、汝にこれを語ろう。

Word by Word

• गुह्यात्: than the secret
• गुह्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from (what is) secret’

• गुह्यतरम्: more secret
• गुह्यतरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-तरप् प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेतार्थ (‘that’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात

• आख्यातम्: told
• आख्यातम्: Kriya (Passive predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) → आख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘told/declared’

• कस्यचित्: of anyone
• कस्यचित्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (‘of anyone’)

• क्वचित्: ever/anywhere
• क्वचित्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-अनिश्चितार्थ (‘anywhere/ever’)

• भक्तः: devoted
• भक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (‘devoted’)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (‘for/indeed’)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (महान् भागः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• वैनतेयम्: Vainateya (Garuda)
• वैनतेयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधन/प्रत्ययान्त नाम (गरुडः)

• ब्रवीमि: I tell
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; ‘to you’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rahasya is disclosed by anugraha to a bhakta-adhikari; devotion qualifies one for deeper teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-kripa and adhikara: esoteric knowledge is transmitted through grace to the fit recipient.

Application: Cultivate devotion, humility, and steadiness; seek teachings responsibly and preserve confidentiality where tradition requires.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.2 (tattva beyond devas/yogins)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vainateya)
• Vinatā

FAQs

What is the importance of this 'most secret' teaching in Garuda Purana?

The verse frames the upcoming instructions as highly confidential spiritual knowledge, traditionally reserved for a worthy recipient; it signals that the Preta Kanda content is meant to guide the soul’s post-death journey and related rites with seriousness and precision.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it establishes that the next teachings concern subtle, rarely disclosed matters—implying knowledge about what happens after death and how actions and rites affect the soul—delivered by Vishnu to Garuda as an authoritative revelation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach death-related rites and ethical living with sincerity and reverence: receive teachings from reliable sources, practice devotion and dharma, and treat guidance on śrāddha/pinda offerings and conduct as sacred responsibilities.