Shloka 41

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च / कर्तव्यं पक्षिशार्दूल पुनर्देहक्षयाय वै

Transliteration

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyurdhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya ca / kartavyaṃ pakṣiśārdūla punardehakṣayāya vai

Translation

ผู้เกิดแล้วย่อมมีความตายเป็นแน่ และผู้ตายแล้วย่อมมีการเกิดใหม่เป็นแน่ ดังนั้น โอครุฑผู้เป็นพยัคฆ์แห่งนกทั้งหลาย พึงกระทำสิ่งที่ควรกระทำเพื่อให้ความยึดติดในกายสิ้นไปอีกครั้ง

Word by Word

• जातस्य: of one who is born
• जातस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणबोधक अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• ध्रुवः: certain
• ध्रुवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) मृत्युḥ

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ध्रुवम्: certain
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) जन्म

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मृतस्य: of one who has died
• मृतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

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

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्य (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेयभावः (to be done)

• पक्षिशार्दूल: O tiger among birds
• पक्षिशार्दूल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—पक्षी (bird) + शार्दूलः (tiger) = 'tiger among birds'

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिबोधक अव्यय (adverb: again)

• देहक्षयाय: for the destruction of the body
• देहक्षयाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—देहस्य क्षयः (destruction of the body)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयबोधक अव्यय (particle: indeed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognize saṃsāra’s certainty and pursue deeds/practices aimed at deha-kṣaya in the sense of ending repeated embodiment (punar-deha).

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-bandha due to avidyā/karma; liberation sought through dispassion and right pursuit (sādhana) culminating in freedom from rebirth.

Application: Contemplate mortality regularly; prioritize sādhana (ethical living, devotion, knowledge, disciplined rites) that reduces attachment and purifies intention toward liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on saṃsāra, pretayātrā, and the urgency of dharma/sādhana before death; Garuda Purana passages recommending Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and śrāddha as supports for the departed and the living

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the certainty of death and rebirth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames death and rebirth as unavoidable within samsara, urging timely performance of dharma and liberation-oriented practices so the soul is not forced into repeated embodiment.

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

By stating that rebirth follows death, it implies the jiva continues its journey under karmic law; the proper “kartavya” is to pursue actions and rites aligned with dharma and moksha to break the cycle.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with awareness of impermanence: prioritize ethical conduct, self-discipline, devotion, and remembrance of the Divine, and support appropriate ancestral rites and charity as part of one’s dharmic responsibilities.