Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 82

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा गर्भस्य संस्थितिः / कथयामि क्रमप्रश्रं पृष्टं वा वर्तते स्पृहा

Transliteration

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yathā garbhasya saṃsthitiḥ / kathayāmi kramapraśraṃ pṛṣṭaṃ vā vartate spṛhā

Translation

Như vậy, ta đã thuật cho ngươi tất cả về cách bào thai được an vị. Nay ta sẽ giảng giải theo thứ tự, bất cứ điều gì ngươi hỏi—tùy theo các câu hỏi được nêu ra và theo ước muốn khởi lên.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘this’

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/Gen. or 4th/Dat.), एकवचन — ‘to you/for you’ (here: dative sense)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘all/entire’ (qualifying etat)

• आख्यातम्: has been explained
• आख्यातम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘has been told/explained’

• यथा: as/how
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb) — ‘as/how’

• गर्भस्य: of the fetus
• गर्भस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — ‘of the fetus/womb’

• संस्थितिः: condition
• संस्थितिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सं + स्था (धातु) + क्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘state/condition/position’

• कथयामि: I tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त from कथ्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन — ‘I tell’

• क्रमप्रश्नम्: the sequential question
• क्रमप्रश्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — ‘a question in sequence/stepwise question’ (क्रमेण प्रश्नः)

• पृष्टम्: asked
• पृष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — ‘asked’ (qualifying kramapraśnam)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle) — ‘or’

• वर्तते: is present
• वर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘exists/occurs/is present’

• स्पृहा: desire/curiosity
• स्पृहा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘desire/curiosity’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge transmission proceeds systematically; inquiry (prasna) and desire to know (sprha/jijnasa) guide the unfolding of instruction.

Vedantic Theme: Shravana–manana orientation: disciplined reception of teaching; adhikara through sincere questioning.

Application: Adopt structured study: ask precise questions, learn step-by-step from reliable sources, keep a reflective journal to integrate teachings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (embryology/garbha-sthiti exposition immediately preceding; transition to subsequent Q&A sections)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of explaining garbha-saṃsthiti (formation of the embryo) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks the completion of a structured teaching on how embodiment begins, preparing the listener to understand later teachings on the soul’s journey, karma, and post-death states by first clarifying how life takes form.

How does this verse reflect the dialogue method used in the Garuda Purana?

Vishnu indicates a kramapraśna (ordered Q&A) approach—he answers Garuda’s inquiries step-by-step, showing that the Purana’s knowledge is transmitted through disciplined questioning and sequential explanation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach spiritual study and ritual practice through clear questions, orderly learning, and sincere intent (spṛhā), rather than confusion—building understanding from fundamentals like embodiment before advanced topics like afterlife rites.