Shloka 85

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः / न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः

Transliteration

nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ / na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ

Translation

อาวุธไม่อาจตัดได้ ไฟไม่อาจเผาได้ น้ำไม่อาจทำให้เปียก และลมไม่อาจทำให้แห้ง—นี่คือสภาวะแห่งอาตมันผู้ไม่เสื่อมสลาย

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• enam: him/it (this one)
• enam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

• chindanti: cut
• chindanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (छिद् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• śastrāṇi: weapons
• śastrāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (शस्त्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• enam: him/it
• enam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dahati: burns
• dahati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (दह् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• pāvakaḥ: fire
• pāvakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (पावक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• enam: him/it
• enam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• kledayanti: moisten/wet
• kledayanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: klid (क्लिद् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘make wet’)

• āpaḥ: waters
• āpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āp (आप्/अप् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• śoṣayati: dries up
• śoṣayati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuṣ (शुष् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘make dry’)

• mārutaḥ: wind
• mārutaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (मारुत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātman is uncuttable, unburnable, unwettable, undryable—beyond the elements and change.

Vedantic Theme: Nitya-ātman; asanga (non-contact) and avināśitva (indestructibility) of the Self distinct from body-mind.

Application: Contemplate impermanence of the body and cultivate fearlessness, detachment, and steadiness during loss, death, and adversity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: teachings on subtle body and post-death journey (contextual continuity with 2.10.86–89)

Characters & Entities

• Atman (Self)
• Agni (fire)
• Ap (water)
• Vayu (wind)

FAQs

What is the importance of the imperishable Atman in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the true Self is indestructible and unaffected by the physical elements, supporting the Purana’s after-death teachings that the soul continues its journey beyond the body.

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

By stating that weapons, fire, water, and wind cannot affect the Self, it clarifies that death and cremation act on the body, while the conscious principle (ātman) persists—consistent with the Preta Kanda’s focus on post-mortem transition and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from fear of bodily loss, live ethically (dharma), and perform necessary rites with the understanding that the Self is beyond physical harm.