Shloka 44
Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation
बालांश्च यौवनस्थांश्च वृद्धान गर्भगतानपि / सर्वानाविशते मृत्युरेवम्भूमिदं जगत्
bālāṃśca yauvanasthāṃśca vṛddhāna garbhagatānapi / sarvānāviśate mṛtyurevambhūmidaṃ jagat
بچے، جوان، بوڑھے، حتیٰ کہ رحمِ مادر میں بھی—موت سب کو آ گھیرتی ہے؛ یہی اس زمین کا جہان ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Mṛtyu’s impartiality across life stages; therefore one should not rely on youth/health and must prioritize right action and spiritual preparation.
Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) of embodied existence; the jīva’s true security lies beyond the body in the Self/Lord.
Application: Live with preparedness: complete duties, cultivate devotion, keep relationships clean, and maintain a steady practice without assuming ‘later’ is guaranteed.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: world/realm
Related Themes: Garuda Purana recurring statements on death’s universality and the need for timely dharma/bhakti (general internal thematic link)
FAQs
This verse stresses that death can seize anyone at any stage of life—even in the womb—so one should not delay dharma, repentance, and spiritual discipline.
By declaring death’s inevitability and unpredictability, it frames the urgency for proper conduct and readiness for the post-death states (preta condition and onward journey) discussed in the Preta Kanda.
Live with urgency and ethics: fulfill duties, reduce harmful actions, practice devotion and charity, and plan family awareness of last rites—because life’s timing is uncertain.