Shloka 39

Devanagari script

त्रियामं शतपत्रं स्यात्करवीरमहर्निशम् / घटिकावधि सारं स्यात्पारिजातं खगेश्वर

Transliteration

triyāmaṃ śatapatraṃ syātkaravīramaharniśam / ghaṭikāvadhi sāraṃ syātpārijātaṃ khageśvara

Translation

噢，鸟王迦楼罗（khageśvara）！百瓣花（śatapatra）可持三夜摩（yāma）；夹竹桃花（karavīra）可历一昼一夜；娑罗花（sāra）之效仅至一伽提迦（ghaṭikā）；而波利阇多花（pārijāta）亦各有其定时。

Word by Word

• त्रियामम्: (lasting) three yāmas
• त्रियामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रियाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (त्रि + याम)

• शतपत्रम्: lotus (hundred-petaled)
• शतपत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतपत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (शतं पत्राणि यस्य)

• स्यात्: would be / is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• करवीरम्: oleander
• करवीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• अहर्निशम्: day and night; continuously
• अहर्निशम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहर्निश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); अव्ययीभावसमास (अहः + निशा)

• घटिकावधि: up to a ghaṭikā (about 24 minutes)
• घटिकावधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: घटिका + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (सीमावाचक/पर्यन्तवाचक); अव्ययीभावसमास (घटिकायाः अवधिः = घटिकापर्यन्तम्)

• सारम्: essence; potent part
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be / is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पारिजातम्: pārijāta (coral jasmine)
• पारिजातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on respecting measured time (yāma, ahorātra, ghāṭikā) and the nature of each offering.

Vedantic Theme: A disciplined life honors subtle laws; dharma is precision in action, not mere intention.

Application: Use śatapatra within three yāmas; karavīra within a full day-night; items with ghāṭikā-limit must be offered promptly; plan pūjā logistics accordingly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple garden/altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14 (continued list of puṣpa-kāla limits; addressed to Khageśvara/Garuḍa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Parijata

FAQs

What is the importance of time-units like yāma and ghaṭikā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses yāma, aharniśa, and ghaṭikā to define precise durations, reflecting how the Garuda Purana frames ritual and cosmological timing with measurable units rather than vague periods.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and death-ritual timing?

In the Preta Kanda, time-reckoning supports the broader discussion of post-death observances; clear units help situate when rites and transitional phases are understood to occur in the tradition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to keep religious observances and disciplined routines time-bound and consistent—performing duties with punctuality and measured awareness of time.