Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अकस्माद्दीनता शोको भयं शब्दे ऽसैष्णुता / वेपथुर्वेपनान्मोहः श्वासरोधो ऽल्पनिद्रता

Transliteration

akasmāddīnatā śoko bhayaṃ śabde 'saiṣṇutā / vepathurvepanānmohaḥ śvāsarodho 'lpanidratā

Translation

ความหดหู่ฉับพลัน ความโศก ความกลัว การทนเสียงไม่ได้ อาการสั่นสะท้าน ความหลงมัว การติดขัดของลมหายใจ และการนอนน้อยยิ่ง—เหล่านี้เป็นลักษณะอริष्टะ (ลางร้าย)

Word by Word

• akasmāt: suddenly
• akasmāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: akasmāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘अकस्मात्’ = suddenly

• dīnatā: dejection, wretchedness
• dīnatā: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīnatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भाववाचक-संज्ञा (abstract noun)

• śokaḥ: grief
• śokaḥ: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śabde: in/at sound (noise)
• śabde: Adhikaraṇa (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• asaiṣṇutā: intolerance (in regard to sound)
• asaiṣṇutā: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-saiṣṇutā (प्रातिपदिक); saiṣṇutā < √sah (धातु) + इष्णु (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• vepathuḥ: tremor
• vepathuḥ: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vepathu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vepanāt: from trembling
• vepanāt: Apādāna (Ablative/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• mohaḥ: delusion, faintness
• mohaḥ: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śvāsa-rodhaḥ: obstruction of breathing
• śvāsa-rodhaḥ: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + rodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘श्वासस्य रोधः’

• alpa-nidratā: scant sleep, insomnia
• alpa-nidratā: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nidratā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अल्पा निद्रता’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Attentiveness to bodily and mental portents as signals to correct conduct, seek remedy, and prepare responsibly.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) of embodied life; the body-mind complex as a changing field (kṣetra) requiring vigilance.

Application: Treat sudden fear, grief, breath-obstruction, and insomnia as warning signs: reduce sensory overload, stabilize breath, seek competent care, and adopt sattvic routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: medical/ariṣṭa and roga-lakṣaṇa passages in the same adhyāya (1.154); Garuda Purana: Pretakalpa themes of impermanence and preparedness (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of arishta-lakshanas (death omens) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists mental and pranic disturbances as warning signs, prompting timely spiritual preparation, repentance, and dharmic conduct.

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

By highlighting breath-obstruction, delusion, and insomnia, it indicates destabilization of prana and mind—conditions that precede transition and influence one’s readiness for the post-death journey described later.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat persistent fear, agitation, insomnia, and breath distress as a cue to reduce harm, increase sattvic living, seek counsel/medical care, and intensify prayer, charity, and remembrance of Vishnu.