Shloka 15

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

वनस्य तस्य सर्वस्य केतुभूतमिवोच्छ्रितम् / तं महातरुमासाद्य निषसाद महीपतिः

Transliteration

vanasya tasya sarvasya ketubhūtamivocchritam / taṃ mahātarumāsādya niṣasāda mahīpatiḥ

Translation

त्या संपूर्ण वनात ध्वजासारखा उंच उठलेला तो महावृक्ष गाठून, राजा त्याच्या खाली बसला।

Word by Word

• वनस्य: of the forest
• वनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (वनस्य)

• सर्वस्य: of the whole
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (वनस्य)

• केतु: banner/standard
• केतु: Upamana/Upameya (Standard/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• भूतम्: become/turned into
• भूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (तं ... तरुम्)

• केतुभूतम्: like a banner/serving as a standard
• केतुभूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केतु + भूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः (केतुरिव भूतम् / केतुरूपम्)

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Upamana-marker (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक निपात (comparative particle)

• उच्छ्रितम्: lofty/raised high
• उच्छ्रितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (तं ... तरुम्)

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महा: great
• महा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• तरुम्: tree
• तरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महातरुम्: the great tree
• महातरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + तरु (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् तरुः)

• आसाद्य: having approached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• निषसाद: sat down
• निषसाद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिपूर्णभूत-प्रायः (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महीपतिः: the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महीः पालयति/महीस्य पतिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta-kanda discourse context)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pause and recollect before action; leadership includes knowing when to rest and re-center.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-sthiti (establishing steadiness) as basis for right discernment (viveka).

Application: When overwhelmed, deliberately stop, sit, and regain clarity before proceeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: forest landmark / solitary great tree

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.27.12-14 (arrival, purification, shade); Garuda Purana 2.27.16 (subsequent fearful sight/encounter)

Characters & Entities

• Mahipati (king)
• Mahataru (great tree)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “great tree” imagery in Garuda Purana?

The verse uses the great tree as a conspicuous “banner-like” landmark, signaling a significant pause-point in the narrative journey—often read as a symbolic place of reflection, decision, or transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

While this specific line describes a king sitting beneath a prominent tree, it functions as a narrative waypoint—mirroring how journeys (including post-death passages) are explained through recognizable markers and pauses before the next stage unfolds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat major life transitions as moments to pause, reflect, and choose dharmic action—like the king stopping at a clear landmark before proceeding.