Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 30

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

मम सन्निधिमात्रेण द्विजातिं तञ्च सर्पहन् / तत्कालं शिविकासुप्तभूपालसुखमाविशत्

Transliteration

mama sannidhimātreṇa dvijātiṃ tañca sarpahan / tatkālaṃ śivikāsuptabhūpālasukhamāviśat

Translation

Chỉ nhờ sự hiện diện của ta, vị Bà-la-môn (người hai lần sinh) và kẻ diệt rắn ấy liền tức khắc nhập vào niềm an lạc như bậc vương giả ngủ trên kiệu (śivikā).

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• सन्निधि-मात्रेण: by mere proximity
• सन्निधि-मात्रेण: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सन्निधेः मात्रम्)

• द्विजातिम्: the twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजातिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

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

• सर्पहन्: snake-slayer (Garuda)
• सर्पहन्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तत्-कालम्: at that time
• तत्-कालम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (तत् एव कालः)

• शिविका-सुप्त-भूपाल-सुखम्: the comfort of a king asleep in a palanquin
• शिविका-सुप्त-भूपाल-सुखम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिविका (प्रातिपदिक) + सुप्त (कृदन्त) + भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शिविकायां सुप्तस्य भूपालस्य सुखम्)

• आविशत्: entered, came upon
• आविशत्: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Transformative power of holy/powerful presence (satsaṅga/darśana) producing immediate sukha and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga as a catalyst: contact with the sattvic/powerful shifts the mind-state (citta-prasāda).

Application: Seek elevating company and sacred presence; create environments that calm and protect (temple visits, mantra-satsaṅga, ethical companionship).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: immediate vicinity (sannidhi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana themes: efficacy of proximity to the righteous/holy; relief from fear through protective presence

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Sarpa (serpent)
• Bhupala (king)

FAQs

What is the importance of divine presence in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that mere proximity to the Lord can immediately transform one’s condition into comfort and well-being, indicating grace can override distress.

How does this verse explain relief from suffering in the afterlife narrative?

It uses the image of “a king sleeping on a palanquin” to show an instant shift from hardship to ease, suggesting that contact with the divine brings immediate respite even for those burdened by past acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate regular association with sacred practice—Vishnu-nama, temple worship, charity, and sat-sanga—so the mind and conduct incline toward dharma and receive calming, uplifting effects.