Shloka 21

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यंपेयं मार्गमाणो न बध्नाति धृतिं क्वचित् / तमपूर्वं नृपो दृष्ट्वाकरोदस्त्रं शरासने

Transliteration

bhakṣyaṃpeyaṃ mārgamāṇo na badhnāti dhṛtiṃ kvacit / tamapūrvaṃ nṛpo dṛṣṭvākarodastraṃ śarāsane

Translation

വഴിയിൽ ഭക്ഷ്യവും പാനീയവും തേടി അവൻ അലഞ്ഞു; എവിടെയും സ്ഥിരധൈര്യം പിടിച്ചുനിൽക്കാനായില്ല. ആ അപൂർവമായ വിചിത്ര സത്തയെ കണ്ട രാജാവ് ഉടൻ തന്നെ ധനുസ്സിൽ ആയുധം ചാർത്തി.

Word by Word

• भक्ष्यम्: food (to be eaten)
• भक्ष्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (कृदन्त; भक्ष्-धातु)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/नीयतार्थ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पेयम्: drink (to be drunk)
• पेयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पेय (कृदन्त; पा-धातु)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मार्गमाणः: seeking
• मार्गमाणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मार्ग् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present middle participle/आत्मनेपदी); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• बध्नाति: binds/holds
• बध्नाति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• धृतिम्: steadiness/resolve
• धृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: Desha/Kala (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (indefinite adverb: somewhere/ever)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपूर्वम्: unprecedented/strange
• अपूर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• अकरोत्: made/placed
• अकरोत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• अस्त्रम्: weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शरासने: on the bow
• शरासने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शराणाम् आसनम् = धनुः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Insatiable hunger/thirst and instability characterize the preta-condition; the living respond through protective duty and discernment.

Vedantic Theme: trishna (craving) as bondage; the mind without steadiness (dhriti) wanders—mirrored in preta-roaming.

Application: Restrain craving, cultivate dhriti through discipline and devotion; fulfill protective responsibilities without panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: roadside encounter space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta hunger/thirst and inability to find satisfaction (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• King (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of hunger and thirst imagery in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the search for food and drink to depict restlessness and lack of inner steadiness, a common marker of distress on the post-death path when merit and proper rites are lacking.

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

It portrays a being wandering and seeking sustenance without finding stability, suggesting the unsettled condition associated with the preta-state and the fearful, unfamiliar experiences encountered on the journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness (dhṛti) through dharma and self-control, and uphold family duties and appropriate śrāddha-related observances so the departed are not described as wandering in need.