Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

न मे ऽस्ति सन्ततिस्तात न सुहृन्न च बान्धवाः / न च मित्रं हितस्तादृग्यः कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्

Transliteration

na me 'sti santatistāta na suhṛnna ca bāndhavāḥ / na ca mitraṃ hitastādṛgyaḥ kuryādaurdhvadaihikam

Translation

താതാ, എനിക്ക് സന്തതി ഇല്ല; സുഖൃത്ത് ഇല്ല, ബന്ധുക്കളുമില്ല; എനിക്കായി ഔർധ്വദൈഹിക (മരണാനന്തര) കർമ്മങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യുന്ന ഹിതമിത്രനും ഇല്ല.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• मे: for me / my
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अत्र षष्ठी (Genitive singular: ‘of me’)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (Present indicative, 3rd sg.)

• सन्ततिः: offspring/lineage
• सन्ततिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, fem.)

• तात: O dear (father/sir)
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Vocative singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• सुहृत्: a well-wisher/friend
• सुहृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masc.)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• बान्धवाः: relatives
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, masc.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• मित्रम्: a friend
• मित्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अत्र प्रथमा (Nominative singular, neut.)

• हितः: beneficial/well-meaning
• हितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘(मित्रम्) हितः’ इति—अर्थे ‘हितकारी’ (beneficial/well-disposed)

• तादृक्: such
• तादृक्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश्/तादृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘यः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (such)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Relative pronoun; Nominative singular, masc.)

• कुर्यात्: would do/should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (संभावना/आज्ञा), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (Optative, 3rd sg.)

• और्ध्वदैहिकम्: post-death rites (funeral/after-death ceremonies)
• और्ध्वदैहिकम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दैहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (ऊर्ध्वं देहात्—post-mortem rites) (Accusative singular, neut.)

Speaker

A departed soul (preta) lamenting to a listener (contextually within Vishnu–Garuda dialogue as an illustrative voice)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auर्ध्वदैहika-kriyā (post-death rites) are a dharmic obligation typically borne by offspring/kin; neglect leads to suffering for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence within karma and dharma: embodied life is supported by social duties; rites serve as karmic ‘bridges’ for the departed jīva.

Application: Plan end-of-life rites responsibly: cultivate trustworthy relationships, appoint ritual responsibility, and support institutions/priests who can perform rites when family is absent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa): repeated insistence that lack of śrāddha/pinda prolongs preta-state

FAQs

What is the importance of aurdhva-daīhika (post-death rites) in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that without someone to perform aurdhva-daīhika—funeral rites and subsequent śrāddha—the departed is left unsupported; hence the text stresses ensuring these rites are arranged.

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

It portrays the vulnerability of the departed when there are no offspring, relatives, or a sincere well-wisher to undertake the required rites, implying spiritual and ritual dependence on the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Arrange end-of-life and post-death rite responsibilities in advance (family, trusted person, or community/purohita support) so essential funeral and śrāddha duties are not neglected.