Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 8

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच / साधुसाधु महाप्राज्ञ यस्त्वं भक्तो ऽसि मे प्रियः / श्रूयतां वचनं गुह्यं नानादेशविनाशनम्

Transliteration

śrībhagavānuvāca / sādhusādhu mahāprājña yastvaṃ bhakto 'si me priyaḥ / śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ guhyaṃ nānādeśavināśanam

Translation

世尊曰：“善哉，善哉，大智者！汝为我之 भक्त，亦为我所爱。今当谛听此秘密教诲，能摧灭种种厄难（随诸处境而起者）。”

Word by Word

• श्रीभगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• श्रीभगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + भगवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बोधन-प्रस्तावक (speaker designation)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (said)

• साधु: well done
• साधु: Sambandha (Exclamation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/सुबन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: प्रशंसार्थक-अव्यय (interjection: well done)

• साधु: well done
• साधु: Sambandha (Exclamation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/सुबन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: प्रशंसार्थक-अव्यय (repetition for emphasis)

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; महा + प्राज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; संबोधन (vocative)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (who)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (you)

• भक्तः: devoted
• भक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle: devoted)

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (are)

• मे: of me/my
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; मम-आदेश (genitive: of me)

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (dear)

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (let it be heard)

• वचनम्: statement/teaching
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म/उद्देश्य (that which is to be heard)

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (secret)

• नानादेशविनाशनम्: destroying many lands
• नानादेशविनाशनम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-देश-विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक; नाना + देश + विनाशन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (destroying various regions/countries)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrī Bhagavān)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine grace responds to devotion; secret teaching (guhya) is offered to the devotee for the destruction of misfortunes.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as efficacious supports amid worldly instability.

Application: Adopt refuge in Bhagavān through devotion, listening (śravaṇa), and applying the taught practice/mantra/discipline to face adversity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dialogues where Bhagavān instructs Garuḍa with ‘guhya’ teachings (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of a “secret teaching” (guhya vacana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the forthcoming instruction as esoteric and transformative—meant to remove diverse misfortunes—so it functions as an authoritative preface to protective, practice-oriented knowledge in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, teachings are often aimed at reducing suffering across different realms and conditions after death; here, Vishnu signals that what follows is meant to counter such hardships and guide the devotee safely.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate bhakti and receptivity to dharmic instruction: the verse emphasizes that sincere devotion and attentive listening to sacred guidance are foundations for protection and inner steadiness amid life’s uncertainties.