Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 38

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियैश्च समायुक्तं नवद्वारं शरीरकम् / विषयैश्च समाक्रान्तं काम-क्रोधसमाकुलम्

Transliteration

indriyaiśca samāyuktaṃ navadvāraṃ śarīrakam / viṣayaiśca samākrāntaṃ kāma-krodhasamākulam

Translation

حواس سے آراستہ یہ جسم ‘نو دروازوں’ والا گھر ہے؛ موضوعاتِ حس کے غلبے سے یہ خواہش اور غضب میں مضطرب رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियैः: with the senses
• इन्द्रियैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• समायुक्तम्: endowed; joined
• समायुक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय

• नवद्वारम्: nine-doored
• नवद्वारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: नव-द्वारम् = having nine doors

• शरीरकम्: the body
• शरीरकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• विषयैः: by/with sense-objects
• विषयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• समाक्रान्तम्: overrun; occupied
• समाक्रान्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + क्रान्त (कृदन्त; √क्रम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय

• कामक्रोधसमाकुलम्: agitated by desire and anger
• कामक्रोधसमाकुलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + क्रोध + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-adj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समास: (काम-क्रोध) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व + समाकुल (with)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body is a nine-gated abode driven by senses; kāma and krodha disturb inner order.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-vyāpāra binds jīva; need for dama (sense-control) and vairāgya to approach śānti.

Application: Practice pratyāhāra and mindful restraint; identify triggers of desire/anger; cultivate sattva through diet, conduct, and japa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: symbolic inner-city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.31.39 (rāga-dveṣa, tṛṣṇā-durga) continues the same body-city critique

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘nine-gated body’ in the Garuda Purana?

It frames the human body as a gateway-based residence through which the senses constantly interact with the world, becoming a major site of bondage when unrestrained.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By showing how sense-contact fuels desire and anger, it explains the inner causes that generate karma—karma that later shapes post-death experiences described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint of the senses and manage desire and anger through discipline, reflection, and dharmic living to reduce karmic entanglement.