Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 106

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

महाधनी च धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः / पुनः स याति वैकुण्ठं मृतो ऽसौ नरपुङ्गवः

mahādhanī ca dharmajñaḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ / punaḥ sa yāti vaikuṇṭhaṃ mṛto 'sau narapuṅgavaḥ

وہ مردِ برتر بہت بڑا دولت مند، دین (دھرم) کا جاننے والا اور تمام شاستروں میں ماہر ہو جاتا ہے؛ اور جب وہ وفات پاتا ہے تو پھر ویکُنٹھ کو جاتا ہے۔

महाधनीvery wealthy
महाधनी:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहा (प्रातिपदिक) + धनी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् धनी)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
धर्मज्ञःknower of dharma
धर्मज्ञः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धर्मं जानाति)
सर्व-शास्त्र-विशारदःexpert in all scriptures
सर्व-शास्त्र-विशारदः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषु शास्त्रेषु विशारदः)
पुनःagain
पुनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formकाल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb: again)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन
यातिgoes
याति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootया (धातु)
Formलट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
वैकुण्ठम्to Vaikuṇṭha
वैकुण्ठम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन
मृतःdead/having died
मृतः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग
असौthat (man)
असौ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअसौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन
नर-पुङ्गवःthe best of men
नर-पुङ्गवः:
Apposition to Karta (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootनर (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नराणां पुङ्गवः = श्रेष्ठः)

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Concept: Righteous living and śāstra-competence culminate in post-mortem ascent to Vaikuṇṭha for the exemplary person.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of ends: artha (prosperity) and dharma/śāstra culminate in parama-gati; suggests bhakti-supported mokṣa-loka attainment rather than mere svarga.

Application: Cultivate dharma with learning (śāstra-vicāra) and devotion to Viṣṇu; align wealth with charity and service; keep death-awareness to orient life toward the highest goal.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: divine abode

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Viṣṇu-bhakti passages promising Vaikuṇṭha-gati; Garuda Purana dāna/śrāddha merits leading to higher lokas and ultimately Viṣṇu-loka

V
Vaikuntha
V
Vishnu

FAQs

In this verse, Vaikuṇṭha is presented as the supreme destination attained after death by a person established in dharma and śāstric wisdom—signifying liberation-oriented reward rather than temporary heavenly enjoyment.

It implies that a righteous, dharma-knowing person who is grounded in śāstra attains a higher post-death state—going to Vaikuṇṭha—indicating an auspicious passage beyond punitive afterlife realms.

Cultivate dharma in daily conduct, study authentic śāstric teachings, and align life with ethical discipline—so that one’s end-of-life trajectory is oriented toward spiritual liberation rather than fear-driven outcomes.