Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 37

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

समाः सहस्राणि च सप्त वै जले दशैकमग्नौ पवने च षोडश / महाहवे पष्टिरशीतिर्गोगृहे अनाशके काश्यप चाक्षया गतिः

Transliteration

samāḥ sahasrāṇi ca sapta vai jale daśaikamagnau pavane ca ṣoḍaśa / mahāhave paṣṭiraśītirgogṛhe anāśake kāśyapa cākṣayā gatiḥ

Translation

水中では七千年、火中では一万一千年、風中では一万六千年（とどまる）。大いなる戦いにおいては不滅の行路を得、また牛舎においても、断食においても—おおカ―シュヤパよ—亡き者には尽きぬ進趣がある。

Word by Word

• samāḥ: years
• samāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• vai: indeed
• vai: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• jale: in water
• jale: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• daśaikam: eleven (ten and one)
• daśaikam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśaikam (daśa-eka) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Meaning 11 or 10+1)

• agnau: in fire
• agnau: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• pavane: in wind/air
• pavane: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen
• ṣoḍaśa: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• mahāhave: in great battle
• mahāhave: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• paṣṭiḥ: sixty
• paṣṭiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Input 'paṣṭi' corrected to 'ṣaṣṭi')

• aśītiḥ: eighty
• aśītiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gogṛhe: in a cow-shed
• gogṛhe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gogṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• anāśake: in fasting
• anāśake: Adhikarana (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kāśyapa: O Kashyapa (Garuda)
• kāśyapa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśyapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• akṣayā: imperishable/eternal
• akṣayā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gatiḥ: state/destination
• gatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific modes of death/austerity and contexts yield distinct durations and an ‘imperishable course’ for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati: results correspond to conditions and intention; tapas as purifier affecting gati.

Application: Value disciplined austerity and self-sacrifice; interpret ‘akṣaya-gati’ as encouragement toward dharmic endurance rather than reckless self-harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/elemental zones and human settings

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: discussions of gati (destiny) and special deaths/austerities yielding higher lokas (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa (Garuḍa as addressed)

FAQs

What is the importance of akṣaya gati (imperishable destiny) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses akṣaya gati to mark outcomes considered spiritually enduring—contrasted with long but finite stays linked to elemental conditions (water, fire, wind).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It describes specific time-spans associated with post-mortem experiences connected to elements (water, fire, wind) and then highlights certain conditions (great battle, cow-shed, fasting) as leading to an “imperishable” onward course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages disciplined, dharmic living—especially restraint (fasting as self-control) and service to sacred duties—while reminding that actions and circumstances at death are taught to influence one’s post-death trajectory.