Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 114

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

त्वचायां शाल्मलिद्वापो प्लक्षः रोम्णां च सञ्चये / नखस्थः पुष्करद्वीपः सागरास्तदनन्तरम्

Transliteration

tvacāyāṃ śālmalidvāpo plakṣaḥ romṇāṃ ca sañcaye / nakhasthaḥ puṣkaradvīpaḥ sāgarāstadanantaram

Translation

ಚರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಲ್ಮಲೀದ್ವೀಪ (ಸದೃಶ) ಇದೆ; ದೇಹರೋಮಗಳ ಸಂಚಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ಲಕ್ಷದ್ವೀಪ. ನಖಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಷ್ಕರದ್ವೀಪ; ಅದರ ಅನಂತರ ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಸುತ್ತುವರಿದ ಸಾಗರಗಳು ಇವೆ॥

Word by Word

• त्वचायाम्: in the skin
• त्वचायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• शाल्मलि-द्वीपः: Śālmali-dvīpa
• शाल्मलि-द्वीपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्मलि (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समासः (शाल्मल्याः/शाल्मलेः द्वीपः)

• प्लक्षः: Plakṣa (Plakṣa-dvīpa)
• प्लक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• रोम्णाम्: of the hairs
• रोम्णाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सञ्चये: in the collection/accumulation
• सञ्चये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• नख-स्थः: situated in the nails
• नख-स्थः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष समासः (नखे स्थितः)

• पुष्कर-द्वीपः: Puṣkara-dvīpa
• पुष्कर-द्वीपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समासः (पुष्करस्य द्वीपः)

• सागराः: oceans
• सागराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तत्-अनन्तरम्: immediately after that
• तत्-अनन्तरम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समासः; अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmography is mirrored even in the body’s periphery (skin, hair, nails), with oceans beyond—symbolizing layered reality.

Vedantic Theme: Kośa-like layering and the notion that perceived ‘outer worlds’ are apprehended through embodied coverings.

Application: Contemplate bodily coverings as symbolic ‘dvīpas’ to reduce body-identification and cultivate witness-awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dvīpa and samudra mapped to integumentary features

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.113–117 (sequence of dvīpa/samudra and subtle correspondences)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Śālmalī-dvīpa
• Plakṣa-dvīpa
• Puṣkara-dvīpa
• Sāgaras (oceans)

FAQs

What is the importance of mapping dvīpas to the human body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the body as a microcosm, teaching that cosmic structures (dvīpas and oceans) can be contemplated within one’s own embodied existence—supporting spiritual reflection used in Purāṇic instruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: by framing the body as a cosmos, it prepares the listener to understand subtle-body and post-death descriptions in the Preta Kanda, where the soul’s journey is explained through structured cosmic geography.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative reminder to treat the body as sacred and disciplined—supporting ethical living, purity, and focused remembrance during rites such as śrāddha and other Garuda Purana death-ritual contexts.