Shloka 43

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

व्रततीर्थादिकं सर्वं पुनः पप्रच्छ केशवम् / ध्यात्वा मनसि सर्वेशं सर्वकारणकारणम्

Transliteration

vratatīrthādikaṃ sarvaṃ punaḥ papraccha keśavam / dhyātvā manasi sarveśaṃ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam

Translation

వ్రతాలు, తీర్థాలు మొదలైన సమస్త విషయాలను గురించి అతడు మళ్లీ కేశవుని ప్రశ్నించెను; మనస్సులో సర్వేశ్వరుడైన, సర్వకారణకారణుడైన ప్రభువును ధ్యానించెను।

Word by Word

• व्रत-तीर्थ-आदिकम्: all that beginning with vows and pilgrimages
• व्रत-तीर्थ-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (व्रत-तीर्थ-आदि-सम्बद्धम्)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (व्रततीर्थादिकम् इति)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• केशवम्: Keshava (Vishnu)
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive/gerund)

• मनसि: in (his) mind
• मनसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सर्व-ईशम्: the Lord of all
• सर्व-ईशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् ईशः)

• सर्व-कारण-कारणम्: the cause of all causes
• सर्व-कारण-कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वकारणस्य कारणम्)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu (Keśava)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation (dhyāna) of the supreme Lord precedes inquiry into vows and sacred places—outer practice grounded in inner orientation.

Vedantic Theme: Integration of upāsanā (meditative remembrance) with karma (ritual observance) as preparatory purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Before undertaking vows/pilgrimage, center the mind through remembrance of the divine; then seek clear guidance on practice and intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections on vrata, tīrtha-māhātmya, and related rites (contextual continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Sarveśa

FAQs

What is the importance of vrata and tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vows and sacred places as essential dharmic supports that Garuda seeks to understand, implying they are connected to purification and proper observance of rites relevant to the Preta context.

How does this verse fit the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue about the afterlife?

Garuda, after inwardly meditating on Vishnu as the supreme source, resumes questioning—signaling that practical religious disciplines (vrata, tīrtha, rites) are discussed as part of the broader teaching on post-death duties and spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach rituals and ethical disciplines with reverence and clarity of intent—begin with remembrance/meditation on the divine, then undertake vows, pilgrimages, and duties as conscious acts of dharma rather than mere formality.