Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 14

Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजाः कुण्डलिनो मौलिनो मालिनस्तथा / भ्राजिष्णुभिर्विमानानां पङ्किभिर्ये महात्मनाम्

Transliteration

caturbhujāḥ kuṇḍalino maulino mālinastathā / bhrājiṣṇubhirvimānānāṃ paṅkibhirye mahātmanām

Translation

Ở đó có những bậc đại hồn, bốn tay, đeo khuyên tai, đội vương miện và mang vòng hoa. Họ chuyển động thành hàng ngũ rực rỡ, cùng những cỗ thiên xa chói sáng tháp tùng.

Word by Word

• चतुर्-भुजाः: four-armed
• चतुर्-भुजाः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘चत्वारः भुजाः येषाम्’)

• कुण्डलिनः: wearing earrings
• कुण्डलिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; मतुप्/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (‘having earrings’)

• मौलिनः: crowned
• मौलिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मौलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘मौलि’ (crown) + इन्

• मालिनः: garlanded
• मालिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘having garlands’

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Modifier (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• भ्राजिष्णुभिः: with shining (ones)
• भ्राजिष्णुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राजिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘shining’

• विमानानाम्: of aerial chariots
• विमानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• पङ्किभिः: in rows/lines
• पङ्किभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; in/with rows)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘in rows/lines’

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता) (refers to gaṇāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Great souls in the divine realm bear auspicious marks (four arms, crowns, garlands) and move with radiant vimānas—imagery of perfected proximity and honor.

Vedantic Theme: Sārūpya/sāmīpya (attaining a form/near-ness akin to the Lord) in Vaiṣṇava mokṣa theology; glory as a byproduct of devotion rather than worldly merit.

Application: Orient practice toward inner transformation rather than status: steady bhakti (nāma, pūjā, seva) and ethical purity, aspiring for nearness to the Lord rather than transient ‘heavenly’ rewards.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial thoroughfare/courtly avenue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mokṣa/bhakti sections describing divine forms and vimāna imagery

Characters & Entities

• Mahātmanas
• Vimānas

FAQs

What is the importance of the radiant vimānas and ornaments described here in Garuda Purana?

They symbolize the fruition of merit (puṇya): the righteous attain luminous forms and honored conveyances, indicating an elevated post-death state.

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

It depicts a favorable destination for great souls—moving in shining ranks with celestial vehicles—implying ascent to higher realms as a result of dharma and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and cultivate devotion and generosity; the text frames inner virtue and dharma as causes of an auspicious afterlife outcome.