Shloka 4

Devanagari script

गुह्यद्गुह्यतरं ह्येतन्नाख्येयं यस्य कस्यचित् / भक्तस्त्वं हि महाबाहो तेन ते कथयाम्यहम्

Transliteration

guhyadguhyataraṃ hyetannākhyeyaṃ yasya kasyacit / bhaktastvaṃ hi mahābāho tena te kathayāmyaham

Translation

คำสอนนี้ล้ำลึกยิ่งกว่าความลับทั้งปวง ไม่ควรเปิดเผยแก่ผู้ใดโดยง่าย แต่โอ้ผู้มีแขนกำยำ เจ้าเป็นผู้ภักดี ดังนั้นเราจึงจะบอกแก่เจ้า

Word by Word

• गुह्यात्: than (what is) secret
• गुह्यात्: Sambandha (Standard of comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; तुलना-प्रयोग (comparative construction)

• गुह्यतरम्: more secret
• गुह्यतरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्यतर (प्रातिपदिक; तर-प्रत्यय comparative)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• आख्येयम्: to be told/declared
• आख्येयम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: अनीयर्/यत्-भाव (gerundive/future passive participle sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (should be told)

• यस्य: of whom
• यस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• कस्यचित्: of anyone (at all)
• कस्यचित्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite)

• भक्तः: a devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक; महा + बाहु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• तेन: therefore
• तेन: Hetu (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन रूपेण निपातवत् (therefore/for that reason)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• कथयामि: I tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; √कथ् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guhya-vidyā requires adhikāra; devotion and worthiness authorize transmission of subtle teachings.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (graded eligibility) and rahasya (esoteric) instruction; bhakti as a qualifier for receiving liberating/transformative knowledge.

Application: Treat sacred teachings responsibly; share sensitive ritual/afterlife doctrines with discretion, ensuring context, preparedness, and ethical intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated ‘guhya’ framing around preta-vidhi and śrāddha-vidhāna in Pretakalpa

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of secret teachings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that certain afterlife and dharma-related instructions are highly confidential and should be shared only with qualified, devoted listeners, preserving their sanctity and correct practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames the upcoming discussion as esoteric knowledge about post-death realities and dharmic procedures, indicating that the soul’s journey and related rites require careful, authorized transmission.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach teachings on death rites, karma, and spiritual discipline with reverence, learn from authentic sources, and apply them ethically rather than treating them as casual or sensational information.