Shloka 14

Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजाः कुण्डलिनो मौलिनो मालिनस्तथा / भ्राजिष्णुभिर्विमानानां पङ्किभिर्ये महात्मनाम्

Transliteration

caturbhujāḥ kuṇḍalino maulino mālinastathā / bhrājiṣṇubhirvimānānāṃ paṅkibhirye mahātmanām

Translation

അവിടെ മഹാത്മാക്കൾ ചതുര്ഭുജരായി, കുണ്ഡലധാരികളായി, മൗലിധാരികളായി, മാലാധാരികളായി; ദീപ്തമായ വിമാനങ്ങളുടെ നിരകളോടൊപ്പം ശോഭയോടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• चतुर्-भुजाः: four-armed
• चतुर्-भुजाः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘चत्वारः भुजाः येषाम्’)

• कुण्डलिनः: wearing earrings
• कुण्डलिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; मतुप्/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (‘having earrings’)

• मौलिनः: crowned
• मौलिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मौलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘मौलि’ (crown) + इन्

• मालिनः: garlanded
• मालिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘having garlands’

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Modifier (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• भ्राजिष्णुभिः: with shining (ones)
• भ्राजिष्णुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राजिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘shining’

• विमानानाम्: of aerial chariots
• विमानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• पङ्किभिः: in rows/lines
• पङ्किभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; in/with rows)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘in rows/lines’

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता) (refers to gaṇāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Great souls in the divine realm bear auspicious marks (four arms, crowns, garlands) and move with radiant vimānas—imagery of perfected proximity and honor.

Vedantic Theme: Sārūpya/sāmīpya (attaining a form/near-ness akin to the Lord) in Vaiṣṇava mokṣa theology; glory as a byproduct of devotion rather than worldly merit.

Application: Orient practice toward inner transformation rather than status: steady bhakti (nāma, pūjā, seva) and ethical purity, aspiring for nearness to the Lord rather than transient ‘heavenly’ rewards.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial thoroughfare/courtly avenue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mokṣa/bhakti sections describing divine forms and vimāna imagery

Characters & Entities

• Mahātmanas
• Vimānas

FAQs

What is the importance of the radiant vimānas and ornaments described here in Garuda Purana?

They symbolize the fruition of merit (puṇya): the righteous attain luminous forms and honored conveyances, indicating an elevated post-death state.

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

It depicts a favorable destination for great souls—moving in shining ranks with celestial vehicles—implying ascent to higher realms as a result of dharma and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and cultivate devotion and generosity; the text frames inner virtue and dharma as causes of an auspicious afterlife outcome.