Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

मामुद्दिश्य नृपे ऽप्यत्राधिकारो ऽत्यनुकम्पया / राजपुत्रो हतः कश्चिन्मयैवाप्तस्ततो मया

Transliteration

māmuddiśya nṛpe 'pyatrādhikāro 'tyanukampayā / rājaputro hataḥ kaścinmayaivāptastato mayā

Translation

ഹേ നൃപാ! നിന്നെ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചുതന്നെ ഇവിടെക്കും മഹാനുകമ്പയാൽ എനിക്ക് അധികാരം ലഭിച്ചു. ഒരു രാജപുത്രൻ ഹതനായി; അവൻ എന്റെ കൈയ്യാൽ മാത്രമേ ലഭിച്ചുള്ളൂ; അതിനാൽ ഇതും എന്റെ കൈയ്യാൽ തന്നെയായി.

Word by Word

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Pronoun, Accusative singular

• उद्दिश्य: having referred to / aiming at
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभाव) / Absolutive (Gerund); ‘having aimed at/with reference to’

• नृपे: O king
• नृपे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Masculine vocative singular

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); emphatic/also

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अधिकारः: authority/entitlement
• अधिकारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• अति-अनुकम्पया: through great compassion
• अति-अनुकम्पया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + अनुकम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Feminine instrumental singular; समासः—उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अत्यन्ता अनुकम्पा)

• राजपुत्रः: the king’s son
• राजपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः पुत्रः)

• हतः: killed
• हतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP masc nom sg

• कश्चित्: someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Indefinite pronoun masc nom sg

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (करण/कर्ता), एकवचन; Pronoun instrumental singular

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restrictive particle)

• आप्तः: obtained/received
• आप्तः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP masc nom sg

• ततः: therefore/then
• ततः: Hetu/Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); ‘therefore/from that’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; Pronoun instrumental singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda; the verse addresses a king within the discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra (entrusted authority) exercised with anukampā (compassion) in matters involving death and protection of dependents.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva-bhāva (sense of agency) within dharma; compassion as sattvic motive that purifies action.

Application: When entrusted with power, act with compassion and accountability, especially in crises involving loss of life or vulnerable persons.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: narratives where a king is instructed to perform rites/dāna for release of a departed soul (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• King (nṛpa)
• Prince (rājaputra)

FAQs

What is the importance of divine authority (adhikāra) in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that post-death jurisdiction is not arbitrary; authority is granted purposefully—here, specifically “out of great compassion,” implying a morally ordered administration of outcomes.

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

By stating that a slain prince was “obtained/brought” under a particular authority, the verse suggests the soul’s transition is overseen and directed by assigned powers, reflecting karmic and compassionate governance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act with responsibility and compassion: the verse frames power and decision-making as legitimate only when guided by mercy and ethical intent—an approach applicable to leadership and daily conduct.