Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

वैदिशं नाम नगरं सर्वसम्पत्सुखावहम् / नानाजनपदाकीर्णं नानारत्नसमाकुलम्

Transliteration

vaidiśaṃ nāma nagaraṃ sarvasampatsukhāvaham / nānājanapadākīrṇaṃ nānāratnasamākulam

Translation

มีนครหนึ่งชื่อว่า “ไวทิศะ” อำนวยทั้งทรัพย์สมบัติและความสุขทุกประการ ผู้คนจากแว่นแคว้นต่าง ๆ เนืองแน่น และอุดมด้วยรัตนะนานาชนิด

Word by Word

• वैदिशम्: of Vidिशा / named Vaidisha
• वैदिशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ‘नगरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘विदिशा-सम्बन्धि’

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle indicating name)

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma (Object/mentioned entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वसम्पत्सुखावहम्: bringing all prosperity and happiness
• सर्वसम्पत्सुखावहम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ‘नगरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सम्पत् + सुख + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः सर्वाः सम्पदः च सुखं च आवहति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (Modifier within compound)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (distributive ‘various’)

• जनपदाकीर्णम्: filled with people from many regions
• जनपदाकीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ‘नगरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जनपद + आकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः जनपदैः आकीर्णम् इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (Modifier within compound)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (distributive)

• रत्नसमाकुलम्: abounding in jewels
• रत्नसमाकुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ‘नगरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः रत्नैः समाकुलम् इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly prosperity and jewel-filled abundance are contextual, not ultimate; they form the backdrop against which dharma and post-mortem fate are judged.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of material opulence; viveka between artha and dharma.

Application: Use prosperity as a support for charity, worship, and ethical living; do not equate wealth with spiritual security.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative sequences where prosperous life precedes preta-condition (contrast motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vaidiśa

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaidiśa in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Vaidiśa is presented as a notable city characterized by prosperity, comfort, and abundance, serving as part of the Purana’s vivid mapping of places encountered in the post-death narrative.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than detailing a ritual or punishment, the verse contributes to the broader journey-framework by describing a specific locale—suggesting that the soul’s passage is depicted through distinct regions and settlements with defined qualities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the Garuda Purana frames life and death within an ordered moral cosmos—encouraging disciplined living (dharma) and mindful preparation through appropriate rites and ethical conduct.