Shloka 9

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

य आतुरः सन् सन्न्यासं गृह्णाति यदि मानवः / पुनर्न जायते भूमौ संसारे दुः खसागरे

Transliteration

ya āturaḥ san sannyāsaṃ gṛhṇāti yadi mānavaḥ / punarna jāyate bhūmau saṃsāre duḥ khasāgare

Translation

หากมนุษย์ผู้เจ็บป่วยใกล้ตายยังรับสันน्यास เขาย่อมไม่เกิดใหม่บนแผ่นดินนี้ และไม่หวนกลับสู่สังสารวัฏอันเป็นมหาสมุทรแห่งทุกข์อีกเลย।

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• आतुरः: afflicted/sick
• आतुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) 'सत्'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाववाचक/अवस्थासूचक (being)

• सन्न्यासम्: renunciation (sannyāsa)
• सन्न्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• गृह्णाति: takes/accepts
• गृह्णाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional conjunction: if)

• मानवः: a man/human
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यः-सम्बन्धी कर्ता

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (again)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (not)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भूमौ: on earth
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• संसारे: in worldly existence
• संसारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• दुःख-सागरे: in the ocean of sorrow
• दुःख-सागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दुःखस्य सागरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antya-kāla saṃnyāsa (renunciation even while afflicted) leads to freedom from rebirth and escape from saṃsāra-duḥkha.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃnyāsa and vairāgya as proximate causes for mokṣa when joined with right orientation of consciousness; saṃsāra as duḥkha-sāgara.

Application: At life’s end (or in crisis), prioritize inner renunciation: release clinging, forgive, settle duties, and turn the mind steadily toward the Highest.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: human world

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana emphasis on death-preparation and the salvific power of right resolve at the end of life

Characters & Entities

• Sannyasa
• Samsara
• Bhumi (earth)

FAQs

What is the importance of sannyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents sannyāsa as a decisive spiritual turning: accepting renunciation—even in illness—cuts the cycle of rebirth and frees one from saṃsāra’s suffering.

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

It implies that the soul that truly adopts renunciation does not return to earthly birth; instead of re-entering saṃsāra, it moves toward liberation, bypassing repeated embodiment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and disciplined spiritual life early, so that at life’s end one can sincerely turn the mind away from worldly grasping and toward liberation-oriented remembrance and practice.