Shloka 57
Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey
भीतो ऽहं पापिनस्तस्मात्तन्मे वद जगत्प्रभो / अन्यच्च शृणु विश्वात्मन्मया कौतुकिना रयात्
bhīto 'haṃ pāpinastasmāttanme vada jagatprabho / anyacca śṛṇu viśvātmanmayā kautukinā rayāt
ข้าพเจ้าหวาดหวั่นต่อคติของผู้ทำบาป; เพราะฉะนั้น โอ้พระผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งโลก โปรดบอกแก่ข้าพเจ้า และอีกประการหนึ่ง โอ้ดวงวิญญาณแห่งสากล โปรดฟังสิ่งที่ข้าพเจ้าถามด้วยความใคร่รู้โดยเร็ว
Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu
Concept: Spiritual progress begins with honest fear of wrongdoing and earnest inquiry to the Divine for clarity about consequences and right path.
Vedantic Theme: Jijñāsā (inquiry) as the doorway to knowledge; īśvara as inner Self (viśvātman) and teacher.
Application: Cultivate reflective fear (not despair) that motivates learning; ask precise questions, listen carefully, and translate teaching into conduct.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana dialogic frame: Garuḍa’s questions to Viṣṇu leading into Pretakalpa teachings (structural reference)
FAQs
This verse shows that even Garuda treats the consequences of pāpa as serious, using fear as a prompt to seek right knowledge and avoid actions that lead to suffering after death.
It sets the narrative frame: Garuda asks Vishnu to explain what happens to sinners—leading into descriptions of post-death experiences and karmic consequences central to the Preta Kanda.
Use the awareness of karmic consequence to restrain harmful actions, cultivate dharma, and seek scriptural guidance rather than ignoring ethical accountability.