Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

निर्ययौ परया प्रीत्या वनं मृगजिघांसया / स गच्छन्ददृशे धीमान्नन्दनप्रतिमं वनम्

Transliteration

niryayau parayā prītyā vanaṃ mṛgajighāṃsayā / sa gacchandadṛśe dhīmānnandanapratimaṃ vanam

Translation

ସେ ପରମ ପ୍ରୀତିରେ, ମୃଗ ଶିକାର କରିବା ଇଚ୍ଛାରେ ବନକୁ ବାହାରିଲେ। ଯାଇଯାଇ ସେ ଧୀମାନ୍ ନନ୍ଦନ-ଉଦ୍ୟାନ ସଦୃଶ ଅରଣ୍ୟ ଦେଖିଲେ।

Word by Word

• निर्ययौ: went out, set forth
• निर्ययौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-या (धातु √या)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः निर्-

• परया: with supreme
• परया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रीत्या)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मृगजिघांसया: with desire to kill deer
• मृगजिघांसया: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + जिघांसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृगस्य जिघांसा)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु √गम्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सः)

• ददृशे: saw
• ददृशे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु √दृश्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• धीमान्: the wise one
• धीमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम

• नन्दनप्रतिमम्: like Nandana (Indra’s garden)
• नन्दनप्रतिमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दन + प्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नन्दनस्य प्रतिमम्) विशेषणम् (वनम्)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rāga (delightful attachment) propels action; pleasurable intent can become the seed of later consequence.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha through saṅga/āsakti; the mind’s outward rush (pravṛtti) veils discernment.

Application: Notice how ‘harmless’ excitement drives choices; pause before acting on thrill-seeking impulses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: general motif of desire-driven action leading to later suffering (contextual parallel, not a direct citation)

Characters & Entities

• Nandana

FAQs

What is the significance of comparing the forest to Nandana in the Garuda Purana?

The Nandana comparison signals an alluring, heaven-like setting that can mask underlying karmic impulses—here, the joy of hunting—showing how desire may arise even in seemingly auspicious surroundings.

How does this verse connect to karma and the soul’s journey in the Preta Kanda?

By highlighting intention (the urge to kill/hunt) alongside pleasurable experience, the verse frames how actions driven by desire become causes that later shape post-death consequences discussed throughout the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Examine the motive behind pleasurable pursuits; cultivating non-violence and restraint reduces harmful karmic tendencies and supports dharmic living.