Shloka 41

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

प्रारब्धमात्रे विप्रस्य पाटने तत्र पर्वते / मम स्थानस्य विप्रस्य महिम्नेव च तत्क्षणे

Transliteration

prārabdhamātre viprasya pāṭane tatra parvate / mama sthānasya viprasya mahimneva ca tatkṣaṇe

Translation

ఆ పర్వతంపై బ్రాహ్మణుడు పఠనం ప్రారంభించిన క్షణమే—ఆ బ్రాహ్మణుని మహిమతోను, నా పవిత్ర ధామ మహత్త్వంతోను—అది వెంటనే సిద్ధమైంది।

Word by Word

• प्रारब्धमात्रे: when it had just begun
• प्रारब्धमात्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रारब्ध (√रभ् धातु, प्र-उपसर्ग, क्त) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण (when just begun)

• विप्रस्य: of the Brahmin
• विप्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• पाटने: in the act of felling/throwing down
• पाटने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाटन (√पट्/√पठ्? causative sense; प्रातिपदिक ‘पाटन’ = causing to fall/striking down)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्रियावाचक-भाव (act of felling/throwing down)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adverbial (Desha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पर्वते: on the mountain
• पर्वते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्थानस्य: of the place/abode
• स्थानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• विप्रस्य: of the Brahmin
• विप्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति—सम्बन्ध-निर्देश)

• महिम्ना: by the power/glory
• महिम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Discourse/Comparison
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (particle of comparison)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तत्क्षणे: at that very instant
• तत्क्षणे: Adverbial (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् ‘तस्मिन् क्षणे’ = at that very moment

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śruti/recitation performed by a qualified brāhmaṇa in a sanctified locus has immediate protective and transformative power.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-brahman (power of sacred sound) and the role of sattvic agency; grace mediated through sacred persons and places.

Application: Support authentic recitation (pāṭha), keep sacred observances, and approach holy places with faith; use mantra/Viṣṇu-smaraṇa as protection in crisis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain/holy abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of brāhmaṇa-mahima and tīrtha-mahima (general); Garuda Purana: efficacy of nāma/mantra in removing preta-afflictions (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

What is the importance of a brāhmaṇa’s recitation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the mere commencement of a qualified vipra’s sacred recitation can produce immediate results, due to the spiritual potency (mahima) of both the reciter and the sacred locus associated with Vishnu.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Preta Kanda?

In the Preta Kanda context, it supports the idea that dharmic acts—especially properly performed recitation and rites—can swiftly aid the departed, mitigating obstacles through the combined power of sacred speech and holy place.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform scriptural recitation and śrāddha-related rites with sincerity and qualified guidance, and prioritize dharmic living—since the tradition emphasizes that sacred sound and holy settings can quickly strengthen spiritual outcomes.