Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 107

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

निषिच्य सुखसन्दोहैर्मां कृत्वाधिकसस्पृहम् / अन्तर्हितं महतेजो यथा सौदामिनी दिवि

Transliteration

niṣicya sukhasandohairmāṃ kṛtvādhikasaspṛham / antarhitaṃ mahatejo yathā saudāminī divi

Translation

ครั้นชโลมข้าพเจ้าด้วยหมู่สุขนานาให้ท่วมท้น และก่อให้เกิดความใคร่ปรารถนายิ่งขึ้นแล้ว รัศมีอันยิ่งใหญ่นั้นก็อันตรธานไป—ดุจสายฟ้าที่เลือนหายในนภา.

Word by Word

• निषिच्य: having drenched, having filled
• निषिच्य: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि-√सिच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive): having sprinkled/filled

• सुखसन्दोहैः: with heaps of pleasures
• सुखसन्दोहैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्दोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुखानां सन्दोहः = mass/heap of pleasures); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive): having made

• अधिकसस्पृहम्: more desirous, greatly longing
• अधिकसस्पृहम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक) + स-स्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अधिकः सस्पृहः = very desirous); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (माम्)

• अन्तर्हितम्: vanished, became hidden
• अन्तर्हितम्: Kriya (Predicate state/क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्-√धा (धातु) + क्त (भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “hidden/vanished” (predicate/qualifier)

• महातेजः: the great radiance
• महातेजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महत् तेजः = great radiance); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle: “as/like”)

• सौदामिनी: lightning
• सौदामिनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौदामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दिवि: in the sky
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in Preta Kanda context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even sublime experiences can intensify desire; grasping leads to disappearance—hence cultivate vairāgya and steadiness beyond passing states.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguish transient anubhava (state) from the unchanging Self; avoid upāsanā-phala attachment; move from savikalpa experiences to stable realization.

Application: When blissful meditative states arise, note them without clinging; return to witness-awareness and disciplined practice; treat experiences as signs, not possessions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.103 (unreliability of phenomena); Garuda Purana 2.6.106 (appearance of inner radiance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of fleeting pleasure in the Garuda Purana’s after-death teachings?

This verse stresses that pleasure can intensify craving and then vanish suddenly, warning that attachment increases suffering and restlessness in the post-death journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It portrays the departed being drawn by momentary सुख (pleasure) that quickly disappears, leaving heightened longing—an inner condition that influences the soul’s experience and vulnerability in the subtle state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and contentment: treat pleasures as temporary, reduce compulsive craving, and prioritize dharma, charity, and remembrance of the Divine over chasing sensations.