Shloka 12

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठो नृपतिः श्रमसन्तापमूर्छितः / जलस्थानं समासाद्य साश्व एवावगाहत

Transliteration

kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭho nṛpatiḥ śramasantāpamūrchitaḥ / jalasthānaṃ samāsādya sāśva evāvagāhata

Translation

ด้วยลำคอแห้งผากเพราะความหิวและกระหาย พระราชาผู้สลบไสลด้วยความเหนื่อยและความร้อน ได้ถึงสถานที่มีน้ำ แล้วทรงลงแช่น้ำทันทีพร้อมม้าของพระองค์।

Word by Word

• क्षुत्: hunger
• क्षुत्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• क्षाम: emaciated
• क्षाम: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• कण्ठः: throat/neck
• कण्ठः: Visheshya (Qualified noun/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (उत्तरपद)

• क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठः: one whose throat was emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् + क्षाम + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (क्षुत्या क्षामः कण्ठः यस्य)

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रम: fatigue
• श्रम: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-समासाङ्ग (अव्यक्त); समासपूर्वपद

• सन्ताप: heat/affliction
• सन्ताप: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-समासाङ्ग (अव्यक्त); समासमध्यपद

• मूर्छितः: fainted/overcome
• मूर्छितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

• श्रमसन्तापमूर्छितः: fainted due to fatigue and heat
• श्रमसन्तापमूर्छितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रम + सन्ताप + मूर्छित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृतीया/हेतु-तत्पुरुषार्थः (श्रम-सन्तापेन मूर्छितः)

• जल: water
• जल: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जलस्थानम्: a water-place (waterside/pool)
• जलस्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य स्थानम्)

• समासाद्य: having approached
• समासाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having approached)

• स: with
• स: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अश्वः: horse
• अश्वः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• साश्वः: together with his horse
• साश्वः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अश्वः सह यस्य)

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

• अवगाहत: entered/bathed (immersed)
• अवगाहत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√गाह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied life is vulnerable; one must seek timely refuge and sustain the body as an instrument for dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-asadhana (body as means, not self); impermanence of bodily comfort.

Application: Attend to basic needs with moderation; in hardship, seek cooling, water, and rest rather than rash action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/pond/riverbank (generic जलाशय)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.27 (narrative sequence: fatigue → water → shade → encounter)

Characters & Entities

• Nṛpati (King)
• Aśva (Horse)

FAQs

What is the importance of thirst and exhaustion imagery in Garuda Purana?

This verse uses intense hunger, thirst, and heat to portray the distress that beings experience due to karmic conditions, emphasizing the urgency of dharma and proper rites that support the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By depicting a king collapsing from hardship and seeking water, it mirrors the broader Preta Kanda theme: the post-death path is arduous, and relief is not guaranteed without merit and prescribed supports.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic living and compassion, and when appropriate follow traditional śrāddha/charity practices—especially offerings of water/food—remembering that actions have consequences and relief comes through merit and right conduct.