Shloka 38

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

आदित्यश्चन्द्रमाः शम्भुरापो वायुः शतक्रतुः / अग्निः खं पृथिवी मित्र ओषध्यो वसवस्तथा

Transliteration

ādityaścandramāḥ śambhurāpo vāyuḥ śatakratuḥ / agniḥ khaṃ pṛthivī mitra oṣadhyo vasavastathā

Translation

ആദിത്യൻ (സൂര്യൻ), ചന്ദ്രൻ, ശംഭു (ശിവൻ), ആപഃ (ജലം), വായു, ശതക്രതു (ഇന്ദ്രൻ), അഗ്നി, ഖം (ആകാശം), പൃഥിവി (ഭൂമി), മിത്രൻ, ഔഷധികൾ, വസുക്കൾ—ഇവയെല്ലാം ദിവ്യശക്തികളായും സാക്ഷികളായും അംഗീകരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ādityaḥ: Sun (Aditya)
• ādityaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• candramāḥ: Moon
• candramāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āpaḥ: waters
• āpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vāyuḥ: wind
• vāyuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śatakratuḥ: Śatakratu (Indra)
• śatakratuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative epithet: 'of a hundred rites' = Indra); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• agniḥ: fire (Agni)
• agniḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kham: sky/space
• kham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here: प्रथमा as list item)

• pṛthivī: earth
• pṛthivī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mitra: Mitra (deity)
• mitra: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• oṣadhyaḥ: medicinal plants/herbs
• oṣadhyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vasavaḥ: Vasus (a class of gods)
• vasavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deities and elements (Sun, Moon, Śiva, waters, wind, Indra, fire, ether, earth, Mitra, herbs, Vasus) are acknowledged as pervasive powers/witnesses within the cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-vyāpti (divine pervasion) through devatā-forms; ṛta/dharma upheld by cosmic intelligences; unity behind many names.

Application: Live as if one’s actions are witnessed by the cosmos; cultivate gratitude and restraint; align conduct with truth (Mitra) and life-supporting forces (āpaḥ, oṣadhi).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of devatās/elements as witnesses occur in dharma-oriented passages and ritual contexts (general parallel).

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Apah (Waters)
• Vayu
• Indra (Shatakratu)
• Agni
• Kham (Akasha/Space)
• Prithivi (Earth)
• Mitra
• Oshadhis (Herbs)
• Vasus

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking these deities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that major cosmic powers—Sun, Moon, elements, and Vedic deities—are acknowledged as divine presences and witnesses, reinforcing the sacred, dharmic framing of rites connected with death and the soul’s transition.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By naming cosmic deities and elemental forces, the text situates the post-death passage within a universe governed by moral order (ṛta/dharma), where the departed is seen in relation to universal witnesses rather than only personal grief.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach śrāddha and remembrance practices with sincerity and ethical living: the verse reminds practitioners that one’s actions are accountable within a larger moral cosmos, not merely before society.