Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

दोधूयमाने वातेन वात्यारूपेण कोणप / पतङ्गा मशकाः क्षुद्राः कवन्धाश्च शिरांसि च

Transliteration

dodhūyamāne vātena vātyārūpeṇa koṇapa / pataṅgā maśakāḥ kṣudrāḥ kavandhāśca śirāṃsi ca

Translation

ചുഴലിക്കാറ്റ് രൂപത്തിലുള്ള പ്രചണ്ഡവാതം വീശി ശ്മശാനഭൂമി കുലുങ്ങുമ്പോൾ, പട്ടങ്ങൾ, ചെറു കൊതുകുകൾ, തലരഹിത ദേഹങ്ങൾ, മുറിഞ്ഞ തലകൾ എന്നിവ കാണപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• दोधूयमाने: (in the place) being shaken
• दोधूयमाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोधूयमान (कृदन्त; धातु √धू (धून्) + यमान)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; नपुंसक/पुं-सम्भाव्य; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे शानच्-प्रायः; 'विपिने' इत्यर्थे अधिकरणे

• वातेन: by the wind
• वातेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• वात्यारूपेण: in the form of a whirlwind
• वात्यारूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात्यारूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः वात्या + रूप

• कोणप: O corpse-eater (epithet)
• कोणप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पतङ्गाः: moths/locusts
• पतङ्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मशकाः: mosquitoes
• मशकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्षुद्राः: small
• क्षुद्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पतङ्गा/मशकाः इत्यादीनां विशेषणम्

• कवन्धाः: headless trunks
• कवन्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world’s terrifying, decaying aspects mirror the fruits of papa and the instability of embodied life.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and aśubha-darśana: contemplation of decay as dispassion (vairāgya) catalyst.

Application: Use mortality contemplation to reduce attachment; avoid harmful actions that lead to fearful states of mind and environment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground / charnel-field

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śmaśāna/भयानक मार्ग वर्णन motifs (general); Garuda Purana: papa-phala depictions using bibhatsa imagery (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Bhutas

FAQs

What is the importance of these terrifying images in Garuda Purana?

They depict the dread and instability of the preta-condition, emphasizing the consequences of karma and the need for proper rites and dharmic living.

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

It portrays the journey as psychologically and spiritually turbulent—marked by frightening apparitions (whirlwinds, insects, dismembered forms) that the preta encounters before reaching Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and perform appropriate śrāddha/pinda-related duties for ancestors and the departed, cultivating steadiness of mind rather than fear and negligence.