Shloka 23

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां पश्यतामेव मृतः सर्वं परित्यजेत् / एकः प्रजायते जन्तुरेक एव प्रलीयते

Transliteration

sarveṣāṃ paśyatāmeva mṛtaḥ sarvaṃ parityajet / ekaḥ prajāyate jantureka eva pralīyate

Translation

ต่อหน้าทุกคน ผู้ตายย่อมละทิ้งสิ่งทั้งปวงไว้เบื้องหลัง สัตว์โลกเกิดมาเพียงลำพัง และดับสลายไปเพียงลำพังเช่นกัน

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्व-शब्दः (genitive plural)

• पश्यताम्: of those who are watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश् (धातु) → पश्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; 'those who are seeing' (genitive plural)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• मृतः: (one) dead
• मृतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मृ (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'dead'

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'everything'

• परित्यजेत्: should abandon
• परित्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु) + परि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परित्यजेत् = 'should abandon'

• एकः: one (alone)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'one (alone)'

• प्रजायते: is born
• प्रजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'is born'

• जन्तुः: a creature/being
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एकः: one (alone)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• प्रलीयते: perishes/dissolves
• प्रलीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ली (धातु) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'dissolves/perishes'

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Asaṅga (non-attachment): at death all external supports are abandoned; the jīva’s existential solitude is emphasized.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva of body/possessions; viveka between transient upādhis and the enduring self-principle (ātman/jīva).

Application: Practice daily remembrance of impermanence; simplify attachments; prioritize dharma and inner cultivation over accumulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: jīva’s solitary journey and karma as companion (cf. nearby 2.12.24–26).

Characters & Entities

• Jantu (individual being)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment in the Garuda Purana’s teachings on death?

This verse stresses that at death one must abandon everything; it encourages vairagya (non-attachment) because possessions and social ties cannot accompany the jiva beyond death.

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

By stating that the being is born alone and dissolves alone, the verse highlights the individual nature of karmic consequence—each person’s post-death journey is shaped primarily by their own karma, not by what others possess or do.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and simplify attachment to possessions; prioritize dharma, charity, and spiritual practice, remembering that worldly accumulation is left behind at death.