Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 38

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

सिंहासनंमहादिव्यं छत्रचामरवीजितम् / तत्रोप विष्टं राजानं किरीटकनकोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

siṃhāsanaṃmahādivyaṃ chatracāmaravījitam / tatropa viṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ kirīṭakanakojjvalam

Translation

Một bảo tọa sư tử tối thượng, rực linh quang, được quạt mát bằng lọng và phất trần đuôi yak. Trên đó nhà vua ngự, chói sáng với vương miện vàng.

Word by Word

• सिंहासनम्: lion-throne, royal seat
• सिंहासनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंहासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—सिंहस्य आसनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महादिव्यम्: very divine, splendid
• महादिव्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—महच्च तत् दिव्यम् (कर्मधारय)

• छत्र: umbrella, parasol
• छत्र: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• चामर: yak-tail fan
• चामर: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• वीजितम्: fanned, being fanned
• वीजितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वीज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘वीजित’ = वीजितम् (fanned)

• छत्रचामरवीजितम्: fanned with parasol and chowries
• छत्रचामरवीजितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छत्र + चामर + वीजित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—छत्रेण च चामरेण च वीजितम् (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व + तृतीया-अर्थ)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (locative adverb)

• उपविष्टम्: seated
• उपविष्टम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + √विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘उपविष्ट’ = seated

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• किरीट: crown
• किरीट: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• कनक: gold
• कनक: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• उज्ज्वलम्: shining, radiant
• उज्ज्वलम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• किरीटकनकोज्ज्वलम्: shining with a golden crown
• किरीटकनकोज्ज्वलम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीट + कनक + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—किरीटेण कनकेन उज्ज्वलम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Royal authority is beautified and legitimized by reverence, restraint, and readiness to honor the worthy.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-sambandha: worldly power is meaningful when oriented toward the divine and dharma.

Application: Use status/resources to uphold dignity, hospitality, and respect for spiritual merit rather than ego-display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court (sabha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.39-42 (courtly honor to a brahmana/Vishnu-bhakta; worship and praise)

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Yama’s throne in the Garuda Purana?

It establishes Yama’s court as an ordered, sovereign realm of justice, emphasizing that post-death judgment is structured and authoritative, not random.

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

By depicting the enthroned king in a formal court, it signals the next stage in the preta’s journey—approaching Yama’s assembly where deeds (karma) are reviewed and consequences are assigned.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with accountability: the verse reinforces that actions have outcomes, encouraging ethical conduct and sincere observance of dharma and death-related rites (e.g., śrāddha) with respect.