Shloka 5

Devanagari script

रुदते करुणैर्वाक्यै स्तृषार्तः श्रमपीडितः / स्वधनं स्वकलत्राणि गृहं पुत्राः सुखानि च

Transliteration

rudate karuṇairvākyai stṛṣārtaḥ śramapīḍitaḥ / svadhanaṃ svakalatrāṇi gṛhaṃ putrāḥ sukhāni ca

Translation

เขาถูกความกระหายเผาผลาญและอ่อนล้าจากความเหน็ดเหนื่อย จึงร่ำไห้ด้วยถ้อยคำอันเวทนา—คร่ำครวญถึงทรัพย์ของตน ภรรยาของตน เรือนของตน บุตรของตน และความสุขที่เคยเสวย.

Word by Word

• रुदते: he weeps/cries
• रुदते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• करुणैः: pitiful
• करुणैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; ‘वाक्यैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वाक्यैः: with words/speeches
• वाक्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• तृषार्तः: tormented by thirst
• तृषार्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृषा + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तृषया आर्तः)

• श्रमपीडितः: afflicted by fatigue
• श्रमपीडितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रम + पीडित (प्रातिपदिक; पीड् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रमेन पीडितः)

• स्वधनम्: his own wealth
• स्वधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (one's own wealth)

• स्वकलत्राणि: his own wives/spouses
• स्वकलत्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कलत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः

• गृहम्: home/house
• गृहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; (स्मरण-विषय-रूपेण सूचीकरणम्)

• सुखानि: pleasures/happinesses
• सुखानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; (स्मरण-विषय)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rāga for wealth, spouse, home, sons, and pleasures becomes acute suffering when separation is forced; detachment is the remedy.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha through kāma and mamakāra (‘mine-ness’); liberation requires vairāgya and turning toward the imperishable refuge.

Application: Reduce possessiveness; practice charity and devotion; cultivate remembrance of Vishnu and the transient nature of wealth and status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: transit/rest vicinity (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: laments of the preta over wealth/family; descriptions of thirst and fatigue during the journey

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of worldly detachment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that after death the being (preta) cannot retain wealth, family, or comforts, yet still grieves for them—showing why detachment and dharmic living are emphasized.

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

It portrays the post-death condition as one of hardship (thirst and fatigue) where the preta’s mind clings to former possessions and relationships, indicating that mental attachment continues even when physical enjoyment is impossible.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate non-attachment: use wealth and relationships responsibly as duties, not as identity; prioritize dharma, charity, and remembrance of impermanence to reduce fear and clinging at life’s end.