Shloka 2

Devanagari script

चितावल्मीकशैलादौ कपे च विवरे तरोः / दंशे रेखात्रयं यस्य प्रच्छन्नं स न जीवति

Transliteration

citāvalmīkaśailādau kape ca vivare taroḥ / daṃśe rekhātrayaṃ yasya pracchannaṃ sa na jīvati

Translation

ചിതാസ്ഥലം, വൽമീകം, പർവ്വതം മുതലായിടങ്ങൾക്കരികെ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കുരങ്ങിന്റെ ഗുഹയിൽ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മരത്തിന്റെ വിള്ളലിൽ—ദംശസ്ഥാനത്തിലെ മൂന്നു രേഖകൾ മറഞ്ഞാൽ അവൻ ജീവിക്കയില്ല।

Word by Word

• चितावल्मीकशैलादौ: in a funeral pyre, anthill, mountain, etc.
• चितावल्मीकशैलादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citā + valmīka + śaila + ādau (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासान्त ‘आदि’), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समाहारार्थे ‘आदि’ सहितः (चितायां/वल्मीके/शैले इत्यादौ)

• कपे: in a monkey
• कपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• विवरे: in a hole, cavity
• विवरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तरोः: of a tree
• तरोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• दंशे: in the bite-wound
• दंशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रेखात्रयम्: a set of three lines
• रेखात्रयम्: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rekhā + traya (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रेखाणां त्रयम्)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रच्छन्नम्: covered, concealed
• प्रच्छन्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + chad (धातु) → pracchanna (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध)

• जीवति: lives, survives
• जीवति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognition of ominous signs (ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa) and situational factors indicating near-certain death.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence (anityatā) and the limits of human control; discernment in action when outcomes are constrained.

Application: Treat snakebite immediately; note danger signs; avoid delaying care due to location-based fear; use protective rites without neglecting urgent intervention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: liminal/inauspicious natural sites

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa style prognostics in poison/illness contexts (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of death omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse exemplifies arishta-lakṣaṇa—observable signs used in traditional dharma/medical lore to indicate when life is unlikely to continue, prompting timely spiritual preparation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stating that certain fatal signs mean survival is not possible, it indirectly urges readiness for the post-death journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana (rites, remembrance, and dharmic conduct).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder to live ethically and stay spiritually prepared; in real life, rely on qualified medical care while using the text’s intent—mindfulness of mortality—for dharmic living.