Shloka 27

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

प्रवान्ति वायवो रूक्षा ज्वलन्तो विद्युदग्नयः / इतस्ततो भ्रमन्तीव वायुना तृणसन्ततिः

Transliteration

pravānti vāyavo rūkṣā jvalanto vidyudagnayaḥ / itastato bhramantīva vāyunā tṛṇasantatiḥ

Translation

ลมแห้งกร้านพัดกระหน่ำ เปลวฟ้าแลบและลิ้นไฟลุกโชติช่วง ทุ่งหญ้าที่ถูกลมพัดดันดูราวกับหมุนวนเร่ร่อนไปทางนั้นทางนี้

Word by Word

• प्रवान्ति: blow forth
• प्रवान्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वायवः: winds
• वायवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रूक्षाः: harsh/dry
• रूक्षाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वायवः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ज्वलन्तः: blazing
• ज्वलन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन्त (कृदन्त; धातु √ज्वल् + शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ; विद्युदग्नयः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विद्युत्: lightnings
• विद्युत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे पूर्वपद)

• अग्नयः: fires
• अग्नयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• इतस्: from here/this way
• इतस्: Adverbial (दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, दिशावाचक (adverb)

• ततः: from there/that way
• ततः: Adverbial (दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, दिशावाचक (adverb)

• भ्रमन्ती: whirling
• भ्रमन्ती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रमन्ती (कृदन्त; धातु √भ्रम् + शतृ, स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ; तृणसन्ततिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Comparator (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• वायुना: by the wind
• वायुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तृणसन्ततिः: a mass/continuum of grass
• तृणसन्ततिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण + सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तृणस्य सन्ततिः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perceived reality can appear unstable and whirling under fear; cultivate steadiness (dhairya) and discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Mind-driven experience (citta-vṛtti) colors the world; seek inner śānti amid elemental turbulence.

Application: In crisis, regulate breath and attention; do not let panic distort perception; ground yourself before decisions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness / open scrub

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: fear-inducing landscape descriptions as narrative device (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu (wind)
• Agni (fire)

FAQs

What is the importance of these violent winds and fiery flashes in the Garuda Purana?

They function as vivid portents describing the fearful atmosphere of the preta’s passage—nature itself appears hostile, reflecting the distress and vulnerability of the departed without proper spiritual and ritual support.

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

It portrays the route as turbulent and disorienting—winds, lightning, and fire create an unstable landscape, symbolizing the preta’s unsettled condition and the challenges faced on the journey toward Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma and prepare spiritually; for families, it supports the value placed on timely antyeṣṭi and śrāddha-related observances to provide steadiness, merit, and psychological closure for the departed and the living.