Shloka 9

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

सिद्धानां प्रीतिजननैः पापानां च भयङ्करैः / लेलिहानैर्महाघोरैरक्षतैः पन्नगोत्तमैः

Transliteration

siddhānāṃ prītijananaiḥ pāpānāṃ ca bhayaṅkaraiḥ / lelihānairmahāghorairakṣataiḥ pannagottamaiḥ

Translation

Có những đại xà tối thượng—không hề thương tích, đứng đầu hàng nāga—sự hiện diện của chúng làm các bậc siddha hoan hỷ, nhưng khiến kẻ tội lỗi kinh hãi; chúng vô cùng ghê rợn, thè lưỡi liếm liếm khi rình rập lang thang.

Word by Word

• सिद्धानाम्: of the Siddhas
• सिद्धानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• प्रीतिजननैः: by/with (those) producing delight
• प्रीतिजननैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति + जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘प्रीतिं जनयन्ति ये’—instrumental plural qualifying the following group

• पापानाम्: of sinners/evil-doers
• पापानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भयङ्करैः: by/with terrifying (ones)
• भयङ्करैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लेलिहानैः: by/with licking/lolling (ones)
• लेलिहानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेलिहान (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle) ‘लेलिह्/लिह्’—‘licking, lolling (tongues)’

• महाघोरैः: by/with very dreadful (ones)
• महाघोरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘महान् घोरः’

• अक्षतैः: by/with uninjured (ones)
• अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अ-क्षत’ (uninjured/undamaged)

• पन्नगोत्तमैः: by/with the best serpents
• पन्नगोत्तमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पन्नगानाम् उत्तमाः’ (best of serpents)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Moral perception differs by inner purity: the same sacred power delights the siddha yet frightens the sinner; fear arises from pāpa and conscience.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi shapes experience; the world mirrors one’s saṃskāras—purity yields fearlessness, impurity yields dread.

Application: Cultivate ethical conduct and ritual purity; approach sacred places with restraint and repentance so that protective forces are experienced as auspicious rather than threatening.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/forest-lakeside sacred zone

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-māhātmya passages describing guardians and omens around 1.84; Garuda Purana: nāga-related motifs in sacred geography sections (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Siddhas
• Papins (sinners)
• Pannagas (serpents/Nagas)

FAQs

What is the importance of fearsome serpents in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the nāgas as moral symbolism: the spiritually refined experience them as auspicious, while sinners experience the same beings as terrifying—highlighting how karma shapes perception in Yama’s realm.

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

It implies that the after-death journey is not uniform: beings and environments encountered can feel supportive or dreadful depending on one’s moral and spiritual condition (puṇya vs. pāpa).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma—truthfulness, non-harm, restraint, and charity—so that the consequences of death and the hereafter are faced with steadiness rather than fear.