Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

वैश्यजातिः सुदेवो ऽहं नाम्ना विदितमस्तु ते / हव्येन तर्पिता देवाः कव्येन पितरो मया

Transliteration

vaiśyajātiḥ sudevo 'haṃ nāmnā viditamastu te / havyena tarpitā devāḥ kavyena pitaro mayā

Translation

ഞാൻ വൈശ്യജാതിയിൽ ജനിച്ചവൻ; പേരിൽ സുദേവൻ—ഇത് നീ അറിയുക. ഹവ്യംകൊണ്ട് ദേവന്മാരെയും, കവ്യംകൊണ്ട് പിതൃകളെയും ഞാൻ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തി.

Word by Word

• वैश्यजातिः: (of) Vaiśya caste
• वैश्यजातिः: Karta/Predicate nominal (of ‘अहम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः वैश्यस्य जातिः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• सुदेवः: Sudeva
• सुदेवः: Karta/Predicate nominal (apposition to ‘अहम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Instrument/Specification (Means: by name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन

• विदितम्: known
• विदितम्: Karma/Predicate complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicative with ‘अस्तु’

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriyā (Optative/imperative ‘let it be’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (enclitic)

• हव्येन: with oblations (to gods)
• हव्येन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन

• तर्पिताः: were satisfied
• तर्पिताः: Kriyā (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with ‘देवाः’

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject of passive predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कव्येन: with offerings to ancestors
• कव्येन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पितरः: the ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (Subject of passive predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

A departed soul (preta) identifying himself and recounting ritual merits (as narrated within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Amavasya/Parva days and prescribed śrāddha occasions (implied by kavya to pitṛs)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma includes deva-tarpaṇa (havya) and pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha (kavya), acknowledging debts to gods and ancestors.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛṇa-traya (debts) and yajña-spirit as purification supporting higher aims; karma performed as duty (niṣkāma tendency implied).

Application: Maintain gratitude practices: offerings/charity/service to community and remembrance of ancestors; uphold family responsibilities with integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa themes: pitṛ-tarpaṇa, kavya, and benefits of ancestral rites (broad internal linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of havya and kavya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes two sacred streams of offering: havya for Devas and kavya for Pitṛs, showing that properly directed rites (tarpana/oblations) generate specific religious merit relevant to post-death welfare.

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

By having the departed identify himself and cite ritual acts, the text frames the afterlife journey as influenced by karma—especially duties like Deva-yajña and Pitṛ-yajña—whose merits are remembered and evaluated in the post-mortem narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular worship and gratitude: perform Deva offerings (as appropriate) and observe Śrāddha/Tarpaṇa for ancestors with sincerity, reinforcing dharma, remembrance of lineage, and ethical living.