Shloka 44

Devanagari script

बालांश्च यौवनस्थांश्च वृद्धान गर्भगतानपि / सर्वानाविशते मृत्युरेवम्भूमिदं जगत्

Transliteration

bālāṃśca yauvanasthāṃśca vṛddhāna garbhagatānapi / sarvānāviśate mṛtyurevambhūmidaṃ jagat

Translation

Maut menimpa semua—kanak-kanak, yang berada dalam usia muda, orang tua, bahkan yang masih dalam kandungan; demikianlah adanya dunia di bumi ini.

Word by Word

• बालान्: children
• बालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• यौवनस्थान्: those in youth
• यौवनस्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (यौवने स्थिताः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वृद्धान्: the old
• वृद्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गर्भगतान्: those in the womb
• गर्भगतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गर्भे गताः/स्थिताः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• आविशते: enters/seizes
• आविशते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मृत्युः: Death
• मृत्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• भूमि: such (in nature)
• भूमि: Visheshana (विशेषण-भावः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पाठे ‘एवम्भूमि’ इति समासवत् प्रयोगः)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mṛtyu’s impartiality across life stages; therefore one should not rely on youth/health and must prioritize right action and spiritual preparation.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) of embodied existence; the jīva’s true security lies beyond the body in the Self/Lord.

Application: Live with preparedness: complete duties, cultivate devotion, keep relationships clean, and maintain a steady practice without assuming ‘later’ is guaranteed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: world/realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana recurring statements on death’s universality and the need for timely dharma/bhakti (general internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Mrityu (Death)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering death (mṛtyu-smaraṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that death can seize anyone at any stage of life—even in the womb—so one should not delay dharma, repentance, and spiritual discipline.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Preta Kanda?

By declaring death’s inevitability and unpredictability, it frames the urgency for proper conduct and readiness for the post-death states (preta condition and onward journey) discussed in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency and ethics: fulfill duties, reduce harmful actions, practice devotion and charity, and plan family awareness of last rites—because life’s timing is uncertain.