Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

जगत्पतिं यज्ञपतिं पार्षदैः परिषेवितम् / सुनन्दनन्दप्रबलार्हणमुख्यैर्निरन्तरम्

Transliteration

jagatpatiṃ yajñapatiṃ pārṣadaiḥ pariṣevitam / sunandanandaprabalārhaṇamukhyairnirantaram

Translation

宇宙之主、祭祀（yajña）之主，恒常为其眷属侍从所环绕；并由首要侍臣如苏难陀、难陀、普罗婆罗、阿尔哈那等不断奉侍。

Word by Word

• जगत्पतिम्: lord of the world
• जगत्पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः पतिः)

• यज्ञपतिम्: lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञपतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य पतिः)

• पार्षदैः: by attendants
• पार्षदैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिषेवितम्: attended/served
• परिषेवितम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुनन्दनन्दप्रबलार्हणमुख्यैः: by (attendants) such as Sunanda, Nanda, Prabala, Arhaṇa, and the chief ones
• सुनन्दनन्दप्रबलार्हणमुख्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनन्द + नन्द + प्रबल + अर्हण + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सुनन्द-नन्द-प्रबल-अर्हण-मुख्याः)

• निरन्तरम्: continually
• निरन्तरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरन्तर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: continuously)

Speaker

Suta (narrative description introducing Lord Vishnu in the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Service (paricaryā) by exalted attendants models ideal devotion; Viṣṇu as Yajñapati indicates all yajña culminates in Him.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the inner ruler and goal of karma-kāṇḍa; yajña as symbolic surrender to the Supreme.

Application: Offer one’s duties as yajña (īśvara-arpana); cultivate disciplined service and community devotion (seva with continuity—nirantaram).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: divine court/assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.1.18-19 (iconographic details of the Lord)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sunanda
• Nanda
• Prabala
• Arhaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of calling Vishnu 'Jagatpati' and 'Yajnapati' in the Garuda Purana?

It establishes Vishnu as the supreme cosmic ruler and the presiding Lord of sacrificial order (yajña), grounding later teachings on death rites and afterlife duties in the highest authority.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul described later in the Garuda Purana?

By presenting Vishnu as the sovereign of cosmic law and ritual efficacy, it frames subsequent instructions on śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and post-death transitions as spiritually effective when aligned with divine order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach rituals and ethical duties with reverence and continuity—seeing them as participation in a sacred order—rather than as mere formality, and seek steadiness (nirantaram) in devotion and discipline.