Shloka 56

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

श्लेष्माणश्च षडूर्ध्वञ्च विण्मूत्रं तत्प्रमाणतः / अस्थ्नां हि ह्यधिकं प्रोक्तं षष्ट्युत्तरशतत्रयात्

Transliteration

śleṣmāṇaśca ṣaḍūrdhvañca viṇmūtraṃ tatpramāṇataḥ / asthnāṃ hi hyadhikaṃ proktaṃ ṣaṣṭyuttaraśatatrayāt

Translation

Kahak, dan enam unsur yang berada di bahagian atas (tubuh), beserta najis dan air kencing—semuanya dihuraikan menurut sukatan masing-masing. Namun bilangan tulang dikatakan melebihi tiga ratus enam puluh.

Word by Word

• श्लेष्माणः: phlegms/mucus (humors)
• श्लेष्माणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• षडूर्ध्वम्: six (and above)
• षडूर्ध्वम्: Pramana (Measure/प्रमाण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (षट् ऊर्ध्वम् = six and above/over six) परिमाणवाचकः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• विण्मूत्रम्: feces and urine
• विण्मूत्रम्: Karta/Pradhana-vishaya (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विण् (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (विण् च मूत्रं च)

• तत्प्रमाणतः: according to that measure
• तत्प्रमाणतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय (adverb) = 'तत्-प्रमाणतः' (according to that measure/standard)

• अस्थ्नाम्: of the bones
• अस्थ्नाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (repetition for emphasis)

• अधिकम्: more/exceeding
• अधिकम्: Vidhaya-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणे 'more/excess'

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अस्थ्नाम् ... अधिकम्) इत्यस्य विधेयम्

• षष्ट्युत्तरशतत्रयात्: from three hundred plus sixty (i.e., 360)
• षष्ट्युत्तरशतत्रयात्: Apadana (Standard of comparison/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः = (शतत्रयात्) 'from three hundred' + (षष्ट्युत्तर) 'with sixty added' → 'from 360'; अपादानार्थे

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body includes mucus, wastes, and numerous bones—an aggregate not fit for egoic glorification.

Vedantic Theme: Aśuci/anitya contemplation supporting vairāgya; body as composite instrument, not ultimate identity.

Application: Practice cleanliness and health discipline without vanity; use awareness of bodily wastes to reduce craving and cultivate equanimity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.53-55, 2.32.57 (piṇḍa explained; karma results)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of measuring bodily constituents in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the body as a quantifiable, perishable aggregate—supporting detachment and preparing the listener for teachings on the preta (post-death) condition and rites connected to the body’s impermanence.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Preta Kanda?

By emphasizing the body’s material components and their limits, the text contrasts the decaying physical frame with the continuing journey of the jīva, which becomes central in later descriptions of post-death passages and ritual supports.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it to cultivate vairāgya (dispassion): care for the body responsibly, but remember it is a finite compound—helping reduce fear of death and encouraging dharmic living and mindful performance of ancestral rites.