Shloka 16

Dṛṣṭānta on Siddhi: Pitṛ-Procedure, Non-Delusion, and Vyākaraṇa Classifications

Devanagari script

विड्वे धा उशनानड्वान्मधुलिट् काष्ठतट् तथा / बनवार्यस्थिवस्तूनि जगत्सामाहनी तथा

Transliteration

viḍve dhā uśanānaḍvānmadhuliṭ kāṣṭhataṭ tathā / banavāryasthivastūni jagatsāmāhanī tathā

Translation

‘विड्वेधा’, ‘उशनानड्वान्’, ‘मधुलिट्’, ‘काष्ठतट्’ तथा ‘बनवार्य’, ‘अस्थिवस्तूनि’, ‘जगत्सामाहनी’—इत्येतान्यपि तत्रोक्तानि नामानि पदानि च।

Word by Word

• विड्वे: two learned men/wise ones
• विड्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विड्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• धा: also/indeed (particle)
• धा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धा (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (particle; used in enumeration)

• उशना: Uśanā (Śukra)
• उशना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नड्वान्: bull/ox
• नड्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नड्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मधुलिट्: Madhuliṭ (lexical term/name)
• मधुलिट्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + लिट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (honey + ??? as lexical item)

• काष्ठतट्: wooden bank/edge
• काष्ठतट्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ + तट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (kāṣṭha-taṭ = ‘wooden bank/edge’)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• बन: forest (variant form)
• बन: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वारि: water
• वारि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्थि: bone
• अस्थि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वस्तूनि: things/objects
• वस्तूनि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सामा: Sāman chant; Sama-veda melody
• सामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहनी: two days (day and night)
• अहनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Authority of received terminology (saṃjñā) and the discipline of precise naming in śāstric discourse.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as pramāṇa in the domain of convention; meaning stabilized by tradition (sampradāya).

Application: When studying or teaching, keep variant/rare terms together with their accepted status; build glossaries to prevent misreading.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.206.15; Garuda Purana 1.206.17; Garuda Purana 1.206.18; Garuda Purana 1.206.19

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of listing these names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions like a glossary line, preserving technical names/terms used in the after-death narrative so the listener understands the specific features and categories referenced in Yama’s realm and the soul’s journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: rather than describing actions, it enumerates named features/terms that belong to the broader account of the post-death route and the environment associated with Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When studying or performing Garuda Purana–based shraddha and death-ritual readings, treat such verses as technical vocabulary: learn the terms so the larger teachings on karma, fear, and ethical restraint are understood accurately.