Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

चलन्नेवं स्नानकाले मध्याह्ने ऽथाभिलाषुकः / जलस्योन्मील्य नयने दिशः सर्वा न्यभीलयत्

Transliteration

calannevaṃ snānakāle madhyāhne 'thābhilāṣukaḥ / jalasyonmīlya nayane diśaḥ sarvā nyabhīlayat

Translation

ఇట్లు సంచరించుచు, స్నానకాలమున—మధ్యాహ్న వేళ—ఆకాంక్షతో చంచలుడై, జలములోనుండి నేత్రములు తెరచి అన్ని దిశలకును చూచెను।

Word by Word

• चलन्: walking
• चलन्: Karta (Agent-participle/कर्तृ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘walking/roaming’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• स्नान-काले: at bathing time
• स्नान-काले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—स्नानस्य काले (at the time of bathing)

• मध्याह्ने: at midday
• मध्याह्ने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक निपात (then/now)

• अभिलाषुकः: desirous
• अभिलाषुकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि+लष् (धातु) + उक (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; इच्छावान् (desirous)

• जलस्य: of water
• जलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• उन्मील्य: having opened
• उन्मील्य: Kriya-viseshana (Converb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+मील् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having opened’

• नयने: (his) two eyes
• नयने: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन; (eyes)

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘दिशः’)

• न्यभीलयत्: looked around, scanned
• न्यभीलयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+भीलय् (धातु; causative of भी/भील् ‘to fear/avoid’ in sense ‘to look around/scan’ as per context)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts (snāna) can coincide with mental agitation (abhilāṣa); purity requires both external rite and inner steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥ-śuddhi vs bahiḥ-śuddhi; the mind’s vṛtti can reassert even amid purificatory acts.

Application: During rituals or daily routines, observe desire/restlessness as it arises; re-center with breath, mantra, and intention so outer practice supports inner clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: river/pond/ghāṭa (unspecified)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana emphasis on snāna, śauca, and mental purity (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of restlessness during midday bathing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats unusual agitation and scanning of all directions during a normal rite (midday bath) as a noteworthy sign in the narrative of end-of-life indications.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By highlighting abnormal behavior at routine moments, it sets the scene for the transition toward the preta-state, where the person’s stability and orientation begin to change before the soul’s post-death journey is described.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain steadiness and sattvic routine; if sudden disorientation or intense restlessness appears, respond with calm, prayer, and appropriate family/ritual support rather than fear.