Shloka 7

Hymns to Nārāyaṇa: Humility, Bhakti, Yoga, and the Guṇas

Devanagari script

तन्मध्ये पतितां पाहि सदा मित्रसमां प्रभो / तारानन्तरजः प्राह निरृतिश्च खगेश्वर

Transliteration

tanmadhye patitāṃ pāhi sadā mitrasamāṃ prabho / tārānantarajaḥ prāha nirṛtiśca khageśvara

Translation

హే ప్రభూ! ఆ భయంకర ప్రాంతంలో పడిపోయిన, ఎల్లప్పుడూ మిత్రసమానమైన ఆమెను రక్షించుము. ఇలా తారానంతరజుడు పలికెను; హే ఖగేశ్వరా, నిరృతియు అలాగే పలికెను.

Word by Word

• तद्-मध्ये: in the midst of that
• तद्-मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अधिकरणार्थे (in the midst of that)

• पतिताम्: fallen (one)
• पतिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त, √pat)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक) रक्ष्यवस्तुं सूचयति

• पाहि: protect
• पाहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नित्यत्ववाचक (adverb: always)

• मित्र-समाम्: equal to a friend / friend-like
• मित्र-समाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मित्रेण समा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पतिताम् विशेषयति

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तारा-अनन्तरजः: the one born after Tārā (younger brother)
• तारा-अनन्तरजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक) + anantara-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तारायाः अनन्तरजः = born after Tārā), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• निरृतिः: Nirṛti (a being/personified)
• निरृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• खग-ईश्वर: O lord of birds
• खग-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (खगानाम् ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/reciter addressing Garuda (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) and divine protection for one who has fallen into danger.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) as the turning point for the jīva in संकट (distress).

Application: In crisis, take refuge in Viṣṇu with a direct prayer for protection; cultivate ‘mitra-bhāva’ (trusting intimacy) with the Lord.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: recurring motif of भय (fear) and appeal to Viṣṇu for deliverance; Garuda Purana: dialogues where personified forces (e.g., Nirṛti) acknowledge Viṣṇu’s supremacy

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Tārānantaraja
• Nirṛti

FAQs

What is the importance of divine protection in the Garuda Purana’s after-death journey?

This verse emphasizes a plea for rescue—asking the Lord to protect one who has ‘fallen’ into a perilous condition, reflecting the text’s theme that the preta’s path contains dangers where divine grace and dharmic support matter.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By portraying a being ‘fallen in the midst’ of a fearful region and calling for protection, it implies the soul’s post-death route is not merely symbolic but experienced as hazardous, requiring safeguarding forces and guidance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform death-related rites with sincerity (e.g., śrāddha, charity, prayer) and cultivate ‘mitra-samā’ compassion—supporting others in distress—since the verse frames protection and friendship-like care as spiritually significant.