Shloka 5

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

नासीद्व्याधिभयञ्चापि तस्मिञ्जनपदेश्वरे / स्वधर्मे रेमिरे चासीत्तेजसा भास्करोपमः

nāsīdvyādhibhayañcāpi tasmiñjanapadeśvare / svadharme remire cāsīttejasā bhāskaropamaḥ

Di negeri yang berdaulat itu, tiada juga ketakutan akan penyakit; rakyat bersukacita dalam dharma mereka sendiri. Raja itu bersinar dengan tejas, laksana Matahari.

nanot
na:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय
āsītwas/existed
āsīt:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
vyādhi-bhayamfear of disease
vyādhi-bhayam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvyādhi (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्याधेः भयम्)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
apialso/even
api:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formसम्भावन/अपि-निपात (also/even)
tasminin him/under him
tasmin:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
janapada-īśvarein the lord of the realm (when the ruler was such)
janapada-īśvare:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootjanapada (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जनपदस्य ईश्वरः)
sva-dharmein their own duty
sva-dharme:
Adhikarana (Sphere/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य धर्मः)
remirethey rejoiced/delighted
remire:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootram (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद
caand
ca:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय
āsītwas
āsīt:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
tejasāby (his) splendor
tejasā:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Roottejas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
bhāskara-upamaḥlike the sun
bhāskara-upamaḥ:
Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhāskara (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भास्करस्य उपमः = भास्कर-सदृशः)

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Concept: When people delight in svadharma and leadership is tejas-filled, social and bodily wellbeing flourish; dharma sustains ārogya.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva and tejas as harmonizing forces; alignment with one’s ordained duty reduces inner conflict and supports order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Encourage role-ethics (responsibility matched to capacity), public health, and leadership accountability; cultivate disciplined living that supports health.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: country/province (janapada)

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising dharma as the root of wellbeing and prosperity

V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

The verse links social harmony and fearlessness (even from disease) with people abiding in sva-dharma, implying that collective righteousness sustains wellbeing.

While the Preta Kanda often describes post-death consequences, this verse highlights the opposite principle: when dharma prevails under a radiant, just ruler, worldly distress diminishes.

Practice sva-dharma—ethical living, honest work, and responsibility—while supporting just leadership and community discipline, as these are presented as foundations for public wellbeing.