Shloka 21
Arrival at Yama’s cities: Citragupta’s scrutiny, Dharmadhvaja’s gate, and the necessity of dāna
जातीशतेन लभते किल मानुषत्वं तत्रापि दुर्लभतरं खग भो द्विजत्वम् / यस्तत्र पालयति लालयति व्रतानि तस्यामृतं भवति हस्तगतं प्रसादात्
jātīśatena labhate kila mānuṣatvaṃ tatrāpi durlabhataraṃ khaga bho dvijatvam / yastatra pālayati lālayati vratāni tasyāmṛtaṃ bhavati hastagataṃ prasādāt
നൂറുകണക്കിന് ജന്മങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം മനുഷ്യജന്മം ലഭിക്കുന്നു; മനുഷ്യരിലുമെ, ഹേ ഖഗ (ഗരുഡാ), ദ്വിജത്വം അതിലും ദുർലഭം. അതു നേടി വ്രതങ്ങളെ കാത്തു സ്നേഹത്തോടെ പോഷിക്കുന്നവന്, പ്രസാദത്താൽ അമൃതം കൈവശമായതുപോലെ ആകുന്നു।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Human birth is rare; dvija birth rarer; cherishing vratas with care brings amṛtatva through prasāda (grace).
Vedantic Theme: Sādhana in a rare embodiment; grace (prasāda) fructifies disciplined karma into liberation-oriented result; movement from karma to moksha via purity and devotion.
Application: Treat life as a limited window: adopt one or two sustainable vratas (truth, non-harm, ekādaśī, japa), keep them lovingly (lālana), and dedicate fruits to Viṣṇu.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated motif of durlabha-mānuṣya-janma and the urgency of dharma/sādhana; Garuda Purana: vrata, dāna, and Viṣṇu-bhakti as means to auspicious gati (general theme)
FAQs
This verse teaches that human birth is rare, and disciplined, scripturally guided life (dvija-dharma) is rarer; it is presented as a crucial opportunity to pursue vows and liberation rather than waste life in negligence.
By stressing the rarity of human life, it frames the afterlife narrative as a consequence of choices made here: one who follows vows gains saving merit and divine grace, which safeguards the soul’s post-death journey.
Treat life as a rare chance: adopt sustainable vows (truthfulness, self-control, charity, worship/discipline) and keep them consistently—this verse emphasizes steady observance as the key to spiritual security.