Shloka 20

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

तदीयरससम्पुष्टकाये का बत नित्यता / गतं ज्ञात्वा तु पक्षीन्द्र वपुरर्धं स्वकर्मभिः

Transliteration

tadīyarasasampuṣṭakāye kā bata nityatā / gataṃ jñātvā tu pakṣīndra vapurardhaṃ svakarmabhiḥ

Translation

സ്വന്തം രസസാരത്താൽ മാത്രം പോഷിതമായ ഈ ദേഹത്തിന് നിത്യത്ത്വം എവിടെ? ഇത് നശ്വരമാണെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞ്, ഹേ പക്ഷീന്ദ്രാ, ദേഹം തന്റെ കർമങ്ങളാൽ തന്നെ അർദ്ധം അർദ്ധമായി മുന്നോട്ട് നീങ്ങുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तदीय-रस-सम्पुष्ट-काये: in the body nourished by its (own) juices
• तदीय-रस-सम्पुष्ट-काये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तदीय (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पुष्ट (कृदन्त; सम्+पुष् धातु) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तदीयेन रसेन सम्पुष्टः कायः यस्मिन्)

• का: what? (which)
• का: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• बत: indeed / alas
• बत: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बत (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विस्मय/खेद/उद्गारार्थ

• नित्यता: permanence
• नित्यता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गतम्: gone / departed
• गतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/अन्वयार्थ

• पक्षीन्द्र: O lord of birds
• पक्षीन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पक्षिणाम् इन्द्रः)

• वपुः-अर्धम्: half of the body
• वपुः-अर्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वपुषः अर्धम्)

• स्व-कर्मभिः: by one’s own actions
• स्व-कर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (स्वानि कर्माणि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body is inherently impermanent and is propelled onward by one’s own karma; clinging to bodily permanence is delusion.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya-deha vs. nitya-ātman discrimination; karma as the driver of saṃsāra; vairāgya as a prerequisite for mokṣa-sādhana.

Application: Daily contemplation on bodily decay and karmic causality; prioritize ethical action and spiritual practice over bodily identification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: recurring anitya-deha and karma-gati discussions around the preta’s journey and moral causality (chapter-contextual).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence of the body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the body is inherently perishable and cannot be the basis of “eternity,” encouraging detachment and a focus on dharma and karma that shape one’s post-death course.

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

By stating that the body is carried onward “by one’s own deeds,” it points to karma as the governing force behind what happens after death—experiences, destinations, and consequences are karma-driven rather than random.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate ethical conduct and restraint, reduce obsession with bodily identity, and prioritize dharma-based actions—since karmic choices, not bodily permanence, determine lasting outcomes.