Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

शिक्षितो बालभावे ऽपि पाठितो नितरामहम् / तत्रापि सङ्गतिर्जाता महतां पुण्यकर्मणाम्

Transliteration

śikṣito bālabhāve 'pi pāṭhito nitarāmaham / tatrāpi saṅgatirjātā mahatāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām

Translation

Kahit sa aking kabataan, ako’y sinanay at masikap na tinuruan; at doon din ay nagkaroon ako ng pakikisama sa mga dakilang kaluluwa—yaong nakatuon sa mga gawaing may kabanalan at kabutihan.

Word by Word

• शिक्षितः: trained/educated
• शिक्षितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिक्षित (कृदन्त; √शिक्ष्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे—'I was trained'

• बाल-भावे: in childhood
• बाल-भावे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बालस्य भावः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—'even/also'

• पाठितः: taught (to read/recite)
• पाठितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाठित (कृदन्त; √पठ्, णिच्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे—'I was taught'

• नितराम्: very much, thoroughly
• नितराम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नितराम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तीव्रतावाचक

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

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), देशवाचक

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—'also/even'

• सङ्गतिः: association, company
• सङ्गतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जाता: arose, happened
• जाता: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सङ्गतिः) इत्यस्य विधेय

• महताम्: of great (persons)
• महताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'महान्' इत्यस्य षष्ठी बहुवचन

• पुण्य-कर्मणाम्: of those with meritorious deeds
• पुण्य-कर्मणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कर्मन्), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (पुण्यं कर्म येषाम्/पुण्यकर्माणि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Education and training, when joined with the company of the righteous, become a powerful cause of puṇya and inner refinement.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra and satsaṅga as catalysts for citta-śuddhi; puṇya as supportive condition for spiritual insight.

Application: Prioritize formative disciplines early (study, service, restraint) and intentionally seek communities oriented to virtue and service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.83 (sādhu-saṅga); Garuda Purana 2.6.87 (service to guests in rainy season)

FAQs

What is the importance of satsanga (holy company) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that association with the virtuous naturally arises from disciplined learning and helps one align life with punya (merit) and dharma.

How does this verse connect to karma and the afterlife themes of the Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda stresses consequences after death; here the text points to a preventative path—early discipline and virtuous association that cultivate meritorious karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Commit to regular study/recitation of sacred teachings and seek the company of ethically grounded people, as both strengthen habits that generate wholesome karma.