Shloka 34

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

मृत्युः शरीगोप्तारं वसुरक्षं वसुन्धरा / दुश्चारिणीव हसति स्वपतिं पुत्रवत्सलम्

Transliteration

mṛtyuḥ śarīgoptāraṃ vasurakṣaṃ vasundharā / duścāriṇīva hasati svapatiṃ putravatsalam

Translation

మరణం శరీరరక్షకుని, ధనరక్షకుని చూసి నవ్వుతుంది. వసుంధర (సంసారం) కూడా దుష్చారిణి స్త్రీలా, పిల్లలపై అపార వాత్సల్యమున్న తన భర్తనికూడా పరిహసిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• mṛtyuḥ: Death
• mṛtyuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śarīgoptāraṃ: protector of the body
• śarīgoptāraṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīragoptṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Note: 'śarī' likely typo for 'śarīra')

• vasurakṣaṃ: protector of wealth
• vasurakṣaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasurakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vasundharā: Earth (holder of wealth)
• vasundharā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• duścāriṇī: unchaste woman/adulteress
• duścāriṇī: Upamana (Standard of Comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duścāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iva: like/as
• iva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Comparison)

• hasati: laughs
• hasati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: has (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (Prathama Purusha), Singular

• svapatim: her own husband
• svapatim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• putravatsalam: fond of the son
• putravatsalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putravatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neither bodily protection nor wealth-guarding can resist death; worldly attachment is ridiculed by the very realm one tries to master.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya of deha and artha; vairagya born from mṛtyu-smaraṇa; māyā-like unreliability of worldly supports.

Application: Practice mortality contemplation; reduce over-identification with roles (protector/provider); invest in dharma and inner preparedness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-personification

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.36 (mṛtyu-smaraṇa and vairagya as support for dana and detachment)

Characters & Entities

• Mrityu (Death)
• Vasundhara (Earth/worldly existence)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment in the Garuda Purana’s teachings on death?

This verse stresses that death overpowers both bodily protection and wealth; therefore, clinging to family-pride, possessions, and security is ultimately futile, and one should cultivate dharma and spiritual preparedness.

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

By declaring that death ‘laughs at’ body-guarding and wealth-guarding, it implies that at death the jīva is separated from physical supports and worldly resources, entering the post-death journey dependent on karma, rites, and inner merit rather than material power.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with responsibility but without arrogance about health or money; prioritize ethical conduct, remembrance of the Divine, and (where applicable) proper śrāddha/pinda-related duties, since worldly safeguards do not accompany one beyond death.