Shloka 100

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

पञ्च प्रवहणान्येव भवाब्धौ मज्जतां नृणाम् / विष्णुरेकादशी गीता तुलसी विप्रधेनवः

Transliteration

pañca pravahaṇānyeva bhavābdhau majjatāṃ nṛṇām / viṣṇurekādaśī gītā tulasī vipradhenavaḥ

Translation

ഭവസമുദ്രത്തിൽ മുങ്ങുന്ന മനുഷ്യർക്കു അതു കടക്കാൻ അഞ്ചു പ്രവഹണങ്ങളുണ്ട്—ശ്രീവിഷ്ണുഭക്തി, ഏകാദശി വ്രതാചരണം, ഗീതാപാരായണം, തുളസി സേവ, ബ്രാഹ്മണരും പശുക്കളും സേവിക്കുക।

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: अव्यय, संख्यावाचक (cardinal numeral)

• प्रवहणानि: ferries, means of crossing
• प्रवहणानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• भवाब्धौ: in the ocean of worldly existence
• भवाब्धौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भवस्य अब्धिः)

• मज्जताम्: of those who are drowning/sinking
• मज्जताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जत् (मज्ज् धातु, शतृ-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle used substantively: 'of those who are sinking')

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• एकादशी: Ekadashi
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• गीता: the Gita
• गीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीता (गै/गि धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन; क्तान्त-प्रातिपदिक (as title/name)

• तुलसी: Tulasi
• तुलसी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• विप्रधेनवः: Brahmins and cows
• विप्रधेनवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (विप्राः च धेनवः च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinataputra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Five conveyances across saṃsāra: Viṣṇu-bhakti, Ekādaśī, Gītā, Tulasī, and service to brāhmaṇas/cows.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-samuccaya: integrated bhakti with śāstra-adhyayana (Gītā) and sattvic vrata/sevā as means to purification and liberation-oriented gati.

Application: Adopt a fivefold routine: daily Viṣṇu-smaraṇa/pūjā; Ekādaśī observance; regular Gītā reading/chanting; tulasī-sevā; charity/service supporting teachers and compassionate care for cattle/animals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: metaphorical landscape

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s repeated emphasis on Ekādaśī, tulasī, and Viṣṇu-nāma as salvific in Preta-kalpa contexts; Adjacent verses (2.32.99–102) forming a coherent sādhana-list and mantra-teaching unit

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi
• Gita
• Tulasi
• Brahmanas
• Cows

FAQs

What are the five 'ferries' (pravahaṇāni) mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse lists five supports for crossing saṃsāra: devotion to Viṣṇu, Ekādaśī observance, Gītā recitation/study, Tulasī veneration, and honoring brāhmaṇas and cows.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on death and the afterlife?

In the Preta Kanda context, it emphasizes lifetimes of dharma and devotion as the true preparation for the soul’s journey—reducing bondage and fear in post-death transitions by anchoring one in Viṣṇu-centered merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a Viṣṇu-centered daily practice: observe Ekādaśī as able, read/chant the Gītā regularly, care for or worship Tulasī, and practice respectful charity/service toward brāhmaṇas and cow-protection—cultivating discipline, compassion, and devotion.