Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

त्वत्संयोगान्महाबाहो नास्ति धन्यतरो मया / बभ्रुवाहन उवाच / किमेतत्दिपिने घोरे सर्वत्रातिभयानके

Transliteration

tvatsaṃyogānmahābāho nāsti dhanyataro mayā / babhruvāhana uvāca / kimetatdipine ghore sarvatrātibhayānake

Translation

ਹੇ ਮਹਾਬਾਹੁ! ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਯੋਗ ਕਰਕੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਧੰਨ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ। ਬਭ੍ਰੁਵਾਹਨ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਇਸ ਘੋਰ ਜੰਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ, ਜੋ ਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ ਅਤਿ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਹੈ?

Word by Word

• त्वत्: of you/your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• संयोगात्: from association/union
• संयोगात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः महा + बाहु

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धन्यतरः: more fortunate
• धन्यतरः: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• मया: by me/than me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• बभ्रुवाहनः: Babhruvāhana
• बभ्रुवाहनः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बभ्रुवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः बभ्रु + वाहन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Speech act/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशक

• विपिने: in the forest
• विपिने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विपिने इति विशेषणम्

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adverbial (देश/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अतिभयानके: extremely frightening
• अतिभयानके: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिभयानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः अति + भयानक

Speaker

Babhruvāhana (dialogue line: 'uvāca')

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅga (association) as a source of protection and fortune; vigilance in perilous, adharmic spaces.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga and saṃskāra: the mind’s state shifts by proximity; reliance on the noble as a practical refuge (satsaṅga).

Application: Choose uplifting company; in threatening environments, pause, assess, and seek guidance rather than acting impulsively.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: forest-wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: descriptions of भयावह मार्ग/अरण्य and भय-उत्पादक दृश्य (general motif); Garuda Purana: emphasis on satsaṅga and Viṣṇu-smaraṇa as protection (general)

Characters & Entities

• Babhruvāhana

FAQs

What is the importance of fearsome regions in the Garuda Purana narrative?

This verse frames a transition into a threatening setting, a common Garuda Purana motif used to highlight vulnerability and the need for guidance, merit, and right conduct.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul described in the Garuda Purana?

Though not naming Yama’s path directly, the imagery of a terrifying wilderness mirrors the Purana’s broader theme that the post-death journey can be daunting without spiritual support and accumulated dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and steady companionship with wise guidance; gratitude and alertness in fearful situations are presented as virtues that steady the mind.