Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

जन्तूनामेव सर्वेषां भेदाश्चैव सहस्रशः / आहारो मैथुनं निद्रा भयं क्रोधस्तथैव च

Transliteration

jantūnāmeva sarveṣāṃ bhedāścaiva sahasraśaḥ / āhāro maithunaṃ nidrā bhayaṃ krodhastathaiva ca

Translation

สรรพสัตว์ทั้งปวงมีความแตกต่างนับพันนับหมื่น แต่แรงขับร่วมกันมีอยู่คือ อาหาร การร่วมเพศ การหลับ ความกลัว และความโกรธ।

Word by Word

• जन्तूनाम्: of creatures
• जन्तूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

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

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• भेदाः: differences/kinds
• भेदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• सहस्रशः: in thousands; manifold
• सहस्रशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (distributive/adverb: 'by thousands')

• आहारः: food/intake
• आहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मैथुनम्: mating/sexual union
• मैथुनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्रोधः: anger
• क्रोधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sāmānya-dharma of embodied life: shared impulses (āhāra, maithuna, nidrā, bhaya, krodha) across species; basis for viveka and self-restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Dehātma-bhrānti and guṇa-pravṛtti: the body-mind complex moves by instinctual vāsanās; discern the Self as distinct from these drives.

Application: Cultivate mindfulness of impulses; practice moderation (mitāhāra), brahmacarya/sexual ethics, regulated sleep, fear-management, and krodha-nigraha through japa and reflection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Dharma sections): recurring emphasis on viveka, human birth, and control of senses (indriya-nigraha)

Characters & Entities

• Jantus (living beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling basic impulses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists universal drives (food, sex, sleep, fear, anger) to highlight what must be understood and restrained through dharma so that life is not ruled by instinct alone.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s journey in the Garuda Purana?

By pointing to common passions and reactions, it implies the roots of karmic bondage—actions driven by desire, fear, and anger shape one’s karma and thus influence post-death outcomes described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice moderation in food and sleep, ethical discipline in sexuality, and mindful responses to fear and anger—so choices align with dharma rather than impulse.