Shloka 56

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

गृहीतानि मया विप्र शिरस्यापीड्य मुष्टिना / तृषार्तस्तत्क्षणं बालः पात्रसंस्थं जलंपिबन्

Transliteration

gṛhītāni mayā vipra śirasyāpīḍya muṣṭinā / tṛṣārtastatkṣaṇaṃ bālaḥ pātrasaṃsthaṃ jalaṃpiban

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, ഞാൻ അവ പിടിച്ചുവാങ്ങുകയും മുഷ്ടികൊണ്ട് അവന്റെ തലയിൽ ഇടിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു; ദാഹിച്ചവശനായ ആ കുട്ടി ഉടൻ തന്നെ പാത്രത്തിലുള്ള വെള്ളം കുടിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• गृहीतानि: taken/seized
• गृहीतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + गृहीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; कर्मणि/भावे ‘taken’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आपीड्य: having pressed
• आपीड्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having pressed’

• मुष्टिना: with the fist
• मुष्टिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तृषार्तः: tormented by thirst
• तृषार्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृषा (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तृषया आर्तः)

• तत्क्षणम्: at that very moment
• तत्क्षणम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• बालः: the boy
• बालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पात्रसंस्थम्: contained in a vessel
• पात्रसंस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (पात्रे संस्थम्)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Himsa and harassment of a child—especially around basic needs like water—constitute severe adharma with heavy karmic consequence.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma strengthens avidya and binds the doer; compassion (daya) is a purifier, cruelty a fetter.

Application: Never obstruct access to water/necessities; protect children; practice immediate amends and cultivate non-violence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: water-spot / roadside

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: cruelty leading to thirst/torment motifs in afterlife descriptions (general)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra)
• Bala (boy/child)

FAQs

What is the importance of water offerings in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights intense thirst and immediate drinking when water is available, supporting the Garuda Purana’s broader emphasis on timely water/udaka offerings as a compassionate aid in post-death contexts.

How does this verse explain the condition of a being in distress?

The verse portrays overpowering thirst driving instant action—once water is present, the afflicted being drinks at once—illustrating how acute suffering shapes behavior in the Garuda Purana’s narrative of hardship and relief.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate compassion and prompt help: when someone is in need (physical or emotional), timely support matters—mirroring the text’s stress on immediate relief through appropriate offerings and care.