Shloka 14

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

एकाकी वै हृतबलः क्षुत्प्रिपासासमन्वितः / स वनस्यान्तमासाद्य महच्चारण्यमासदत्

Transliteration

ekākī vai hṛtabalaḥ kṣutpripāsāsamanvitaḥ / sa vanasyāntamāsādya mahaccāraṇyamāsadat

Translation

అతడు ఒంటరిగా, బలం క్షీణించి, ఆకలి దాహాలతో బాధపడుతూ అడవి అంచుకు చేరి, ఆపై విస్తారమైన భయంకర అరణ్యంలో ప్రవేశించాడు।

Word by Word

• एकाकी: alone, solitary
• एकाकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• हृतबलः: whose strength was taken away; weakened
• हृतबलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत (√हृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्तान्त-विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (हृतं बलं यस्य)

• क्षुत्: hunger
• क्षुत्: Hetu/State (cause/condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (क्षुत्-प्रिपासा)

• प्रिपासा: thirst
• प्रिपासा: Hetu/State (cause/condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिपासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (क्षुत्-प्रिपासा)

• समन्वितः: endowed with, accompanied by
• समन्वितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्वित (√अन्वि/अनु+इ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्तान्त-विशेषण; (क्षुत्प्रिपासाभ्याम्) समन्वितः—युक्तः

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वनस्य: of the forest
• वनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अन्तम्: end, boundary
• अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala (prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ+√सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्ययीभाव-रूप कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• महत्: great, vast
• महत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (आरण्यम्)

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

• आरण्यम्: wilderness, forest-region
• आरण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आसदत्: he reached/arrived
• आसदत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Human frailty and the testing of resolve when supports are absent.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) of bodily strength; dependence on prāṇa and sustenance.

Application: Cultivate preparedness and restraint; recognize bodily limits and seek right support rather than pride in strength.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness/forest frontier

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: motifs of solitary journey and depletion before instruction/encounter (general thematic echo)

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of hunger and thirst imagery in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses the preta’s vulnerability—strength is depleted and basic needs torment it—supporting the text’s emphasis on rites like śrāddha and offerings meant to ease the departed’s distress.

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

It portrays the departed as traveling alone through harsh terrain, indicating an arduous transitional journey where the being experiences suffering and disorientation before reaching further stages described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages timely, sincere ancestral rites (as per one’s tradition) and ethical living, reminding practitioners that compassion and duty toward the departed are central themes in the Garuda Purana.