Shloka 127

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

जंबूफलसमाकारा पुच्छे सूक्ष्मा सबिन्दुका / चक्रत्रया च वदने पुच्छोपरि सचक्रका

Transliteration

jaṃbūphalasamākārā pucche sūkṣmā sabindukā / cakratrayā ca vadane pucchopari sacakrakā

Translation

اس کی صورت جمبو پھل جیسی ہے؛ دُم پر نہایت باریک سا نقطہ نما نشان ہے۔ چہرے پر تین چکر کے نشان ہیں اور دُم کے اوپر بھی چکر سا نشان موجود ہے۔

Word by Word

• जम्बूफलसमाकारा: having the shape like a jambu-fruit
• जम्बूफलसमाकारा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जम्बूफल + सम + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; समास: जम्बूफलस्य समः आकारः यस्याः (having a form like a jambu-fruit)

• पुच्छे: at/in the tail
• पुच्छे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle/small
• सूक्ष्मा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण

• सबिन्दुका: with a dot/spot
• सबिन्दुका: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बिन्दुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘with a dot/spot’)

• चक्रत्रया: having three discs
• चक्रत्रया: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); द्विगु-समास (‘three wheels/discs’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• वदने: in the mouth/face
• वदने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• पुच्छोपरि: above the tail
• पुच्छोपरि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुच्छ + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (on/above the tail)

• सचक्रका: with a disc
• सचक्रका: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + चक्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘with a disc’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognizing and venerating divine signs (lakṣaṇa) as supports for devotion and merit.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana as an aid to steadiness of mind (citta-ekagrata) and purification (citta-shuddhi).

Application: Learn traditional identifying marks of sacred forms; keep worship objects pure; cultivate attentive, reverent perception rather than casual seeing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.128; Garuda Purana 3.26.129; Garuda Purana 3.26.130

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Preta (subtle being)

FAQs

What is the importance of these wheel-like marks described in the Garuda Purana?

They function as identifying features (lakṣaṇas) of the preta’s subtle form, emphasizing that the post-death journey is described with specific, observable symbolic markers rather than as a vague abstraction.

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

By detailing the preta’s subtle-body characteristics, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s narrative that the jīva travels after death in a distinct intermediary form, which undergoes experiences and recognition in the preta-journey framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages seriousness about śrāddha and post-death rites, and motivates ethical living (dharma) by reminding that actions have consequences experienced by the jīva beyond death in a structured afterlife process.