Shloka 76

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

नार कांश्चैव सम्प्रेक्ष्य महद्दुः खमवाप्यते / एवं गतिमहं गन्तेत्यहर्निशमनिर्वृतः

Transliteration

nāra kāṃścaiva samprekṣya mahadduḥ khamavāpyate / evaṃ gatimahaṃ gantetyaharniśamanirvṛtaḥ

Translation

نرکی حالت والوں کو دیکھ کر بڑا رنج ہوتا ہے۔ ‘مجھے بھی ایسی ہی گتی کو جانا ہوگا’ یہ سوچ کر وہ دن رات بے سکون رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• नारकान्: hell-beings (denizens of hell)
• नारकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having observed
• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + √ईक्ष्/प्रेक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen/after observing’

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (दुःखम्)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (Subject in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपे (with passive)

• अवाप्यते: is experienced/obtained
• अवाप्यते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘is obtained/experienced’)

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Prakāra (Manner adjunct/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक/adverb of manner)

• गतिम्: state/condition/destination
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (गन्तेः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• गन्ता: (am) going to go / will go
• गन्ता: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) तृ-प्रत्यय (कर्तरि तृन्), कृदन्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि-कर्तृवाचक (agent noun: ‘one who will go’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/quotative)

• अहर्निशम्: day and night/constantly
• अहर्निशम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे नित्यसमासवत् अव्यय (द्वन्द्व-समासः: अहः + निशम्; अर्थे ‘day and night’ = always)

• अनिर्वृतः: unrelieved/without peace
• अनिर्वृतः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वृत (√वृत्/√वृ (धातु) नि-उपसर्ग, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + अ- (निषेध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (अहम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of others’ suffering produces saṃvega (spiritual urgency) and vairāgya; recognition ‘I too may go there’ spurs transformation.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha-darśana leading to viveka and vairāgya; saṃsāra-bhaya as a catalyst for mumukṣutva.

Application: Use encounters with suffering (illness, aging, death, injustice) as prompts for ethical living, inner discipline, and devotion rather than despair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: exhortations to reflect on naraka and impermanence to cultivate detachment

Characters & Entities

• Nara (human beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of contemplating death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that witnessing human suffering can awaken a sober awareness—‘I too must face such a state’—which encourages detachment and a turn toward dharma.

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

It frames the after-death journey as a ‘gati’ (destiny/state) that one must inevitably undergo, producing inner unrest until one aligns life with right conduct and spiritual preparation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use mortality as a daily reminder to reduce harmful actions, cultivate compassion, and prioritize dharmic living so the mind is not ‘anirvṛta’ (restless) with fear and regret.