Shloka 3

Devanagari script

स्रष्टा धाता विभुर्विष्णुः संहर्ता मृत्युरन्तकः / तद्वदुक्तं च यत्नेन यतितव्यमतः सदा

Transliteration

sraṣṭā dhātā vibhurviṣṇuḥ saṃhartā mṛtyurantakaḥ / tadvaduktaṃ ca yatnena yatitavyamataḥ sadā

Translation

Вишну, всепроникающий Владыка, — Творец и Поддерживающий; а Смерть—Антака—есть Разрушитель. Потому, согласно сказанному, следует всегда усердно подвизаться.

Word by Word

• sraṣṭā: creator
• sraṣṭā: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √sṛj (धातु) + तृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dhātā: supporter; sustainer
• dhātā: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √dhā (धातु) + तृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vibhuḥ: the all-pervading one
• vibhuḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saṃhartā: destroyer
• saṃhartā: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃ-√hṛ (धातु) + तृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mṛtyuḥ: death
• mṛtyuḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• antakaḥ: ender; terminator
• antakaḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tadvat: likewise; in that manner
• tadvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (comparative adverb: 'likewise')

• uktam: said; stated
• uktam: Kriyā (Impersonal predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगे (as 'it is said')

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• yatnena: with effort; carefully
• yatnena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yatitavyam: should be striven for
• yatitavyam: Kriyā (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yat (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (what should be done)

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थे (causal/consequential particle)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognize divine governance (Viṣṇu as creator/sustainer) and inevitability of dissolution (Mṛtyu/Antaka); therefore maintain continual diligence (yatna) in right conduct and self-care.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā and niyati: worldly processes are governed; human agency is to strive within dharma amid inevitability of death.

Application: Live with disciplined effort—health regimen, ethical conduct, and remembrance of mortality to prioritize what is essential.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic frame within teaching dialogue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2-1.3 (Vaiṣṇava framing; Viṣṇu as supreme); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa passages on mṛtyu-smṛti and preparedness (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Mrityu
• Antaka

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Death (Mṛtyu/Antaka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames death as the inevitable destroyer, urging constant diligence—so one does not postpone dharma and right conduct.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s journey after death?

By emphasizing inevitability of death, it motivates timely purification of karma through sustained effort, which supports a steadier post-death passage described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency: keep daily discipline, avoid harmful actions, and practice steady devotion and charity without delay.