Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 51

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

प्रशशंसुस्तथान्योन्यं सूतं सर्वार्थदर्शिनम् / प्रहर्षमतुलं प्रापुर्मुनयः शौनकादयः

Transliteration

praśaśaṃsustathānyonyaṃ sūtaṃ sarvārthadarśinam / praharṣamatulaṃ prāpurmunayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ

Translation

تب شونک وغیرہ رشیوں نے ایک دوسرے کی تعریف کی اور سوت جی—جو ہر معنی کے بینا ہیں—کی ثنا کرتے ہوئے بے مثال مسرت کو پہنچے۔

Word by Word

• प्रशशंसुः: praised
• प्रशशंसुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• तथा: thus; in that way
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually; each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; mutuality adverb ‘each other’ (परस्परार्थे)

• सूतम्: Sūta (the narrator)
• सूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सर्वार्थ-दर्शिनम्: seer of all meanings; all-knowing
• सर्वार्थ-दर्शिनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अर्थ + दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषाम् अर्थानाम् दर्शी

• प्रहर्षम्: joy; exhilaration
• प्रहर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to प्रहर्षम्

• प्रापुः: attained
• प्रापुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• शौनक-आदयः: Śaunaka and others
• शौनक-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: शौनकः आदिः येषाम् (group headed by Śaunaka)

Speaker

Sūta (narratorial voice describing the sages’ response)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satsaṅga and honoring the kathā-vaktā (Sūta) as a conduit of meaning yields inner joy and receptivity to dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa in a sanctified assembly as a preparatory limb for purification (citta-śuddhi) and steady contemplation.

Application: Seek uplifting discourse with learned teachers; cultivate gratitude and mutual respect in spiritual communities to deepen absorption in sacred teaching.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest āśrama/sacrificial grove

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.47 (context: dialogue setting with Sūta and sages)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Śaunaka

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Sūta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights reverence for the qualified narrator (Sūta) who conveys the Purāṇic teaching accurately; honoring such transmission is presented as a source of spiritual uplift and joy.

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

Indirectly: it frames the setting where teachings on death, preta-state, and rites are received—showing that attentive listening to correct instruction is part of preparing for right conduct and proper rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek authentic teachers/texts, listen with attention, and cultivate respect for sound spiritual instruction—especially when learning about dharma, samskāras, and death-related rites.