Shloka 13

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

पिता पितामहो भ्राता सकुल्यो जननी तथा / कन्याप्रदः पूर्वनाशे प्रकृतीस्थः परः परः

Transliteration

pitā pitāmaho bhrātā sakulyo jananī tathā / kanyāpradaḥ pūrvanāśe prakṛtīsthaḥ paraḥ paraḥ

Translation

മുൻസ്ഥിതി നശിക്കുന്ന (മരണം) സമയത്ത് പിതാവ്, പിതാമഹൻ, സഹോദരൻ, കുലബന്ധു, മാതാവ്, കന്യാദാതാവ്—എല്ലാവരും തങ്ങളുടെ സ്വാഭാവിക ലോകസ്ഥിതിയിൽ തന്നെ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; എന്നാൽ പരമാത്മാവ് സർവാതീതൻ, പരാത്പര പരമൻ।

Word by Word

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पितामहः: paternal grandfather
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सकुल्यः: kinsman of the same family/lineage
• सकुल्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जननी: mother
• जननी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (also/likewise)

• कन्याप्रदः: giver of the maiden (in marriage)
• कन्याप्रदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (कृदन्त; √दा/दद् ‘to give’ + प्र- उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कन्यायाः प्रदः = giver of the maiden)

• पूर्वनाशे: in the prior absence/destruction (i.e., when earlier ones are gone)
• पूर्वनाशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रकृतीस्थः: situated in the proper/natural order
• प्रकृतीस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त; √स्था ‘to stand’ )
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रकृतौ स्थितः = situated in the natural order)

• परः: next/other
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परः: next (in succession)
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At death, all worldly relations remain within their natural condition; only the Supreme is truly beyond and ultimate refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Para-brahman as transcendent; distinction between prakriti-bound relations and the Absolute; implicit viveka/vairagya.

Application: Cultivate non-attachment to social identity and kinship as ultimate support; orient remembrance and surrender toward the Supreme, especially in life’s final phase.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: impermanence of worldly ties at death; need for higher refuge (general parallel motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Father
• Grandfather
• Mother
• Relatives
• Kanyāprada (giver of the bride)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment from family ties in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that at death relatives remain in their own worldly condition, so spiritual refuge should be sought in the Supreme who transcends all.

How does this verse explain the soul’s situation at the time of death?

It contrasts the perishing of one’s former worldly state with the fact that family cannot accompany the departing person; only the Supreme Reality stands beyond that change.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate devotion and ethical living now—honor family duties, but train the mind to remember the Supreme as the ultimate support at life’s end.