Shloka 34

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

तेषा राजा स्वयं कुर्यात्कर्माणि तु यतो नृपः / आत्मनश्च शुभं कर्म कर्तव्यं पारलौकिकम्

Transliteration

teṣā rājā svayaṃ kuryātkarmāṇi tu yato nṛpaḥ / ātmanaśca śubhaṃ karma kartavyaṃ pāralaukikam

Translation

پس بادشاہ کو چاہیے کہ وہ خود اُن فرائض کی درست ادائیگی کا اہتمام کرے؛ کیونکہ حاکم کو اپنے ہی بھلے کے لیے وہ نیک اعمال خود کرنے چاہییں جو پرلوک میں پھل دیتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्माणि: actions, duties
• कर्माणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (Particle)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कारणार्थक-अव्यय (Causal indeclinable: 'because/from which reason')

• नृपः: the king (ruler)
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (Conjunction)

• शुभम्: auspicious, good
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• कर्म: deed, action
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done, should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• पारलौकिकम्: other-worldly, for the next world
• पारलौकिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारलौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A ruler must personally ensure and perform auspicious duties that yield results beyond this life.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the continuity of moral causation beyond death; pravṛtti guided by dharma.

Application: Leaders should not merely delegate ethics/ritual obligations; personally practice charity, protection, justice, and pious acts with long-term accountability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: karma follows the jiva; kingship duties tied to paraloka-phala (general theme across 2.9)

Characters & Entities

• King (Nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of pāralaukika (other-worldly) karma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that certain auspicious, dharmic actions are specifically meant to secure welfare after death; they are not merely social duties but merit-bearing acts that support one’s post-mortem destiny.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in practical terms?

By urging personal responsibility for śubha-karma, it implies that one’s afterlife condition is shaped by accumulated merit; even a king must actively cultivate deeds that aid the soul beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not outsource ethics: consistently perform truthful, charitable, and duty-aligned actions with awareness of long-term consequences, including spiritual accountability beyond immediate worldly gain.