Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 88

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

हारनूपुरमाधुर्यैः शोभितान्यमलानि तु / प्रयान्त्याशु विमानानि दिव्यगन्धस्रगुज्ज्वलाः

Transliteration

hāranūpuramādhuryaiḥ śobhitānyamalāni tu / prayāntyāśu vimānāni divyagandhasragujjvalāḥ

Translation

那些天界飞行宫车（vimāna）以项链与脚铃的柔美光辉庄严装饰，洁净无瑕，迅疾前行；又因佩戴散发天香的花鬘而熠熠生辉。

Word by Word

• हार-नूपुर-माधुर्यैः: by the sweetness/charm of necklaces and anklets
• हार-नूपुर-माधुर्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक) + नूपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + माधुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हारनूपुरयोः माधुर्यम्)

• शोभितानि: adorned, beautified
• शोभितानि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभि (धातु) → शोभित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (विमानानि)

• अमलानि: pure, spotless
• अमलानि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (विमानानि)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphasis/contrast)

• प्रयान्ति: go forth, proceed
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• विमानानि: celestial chariots/vehicles
• विमानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दिव्य-गन्ध-स्रक्-उज्ज्वलाः: shining with garlands of divine fragrance
• दिव्य-गन्ध-स्रक्-उज्ज्वलाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रक्/स्रज् (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; (पाठानुसार) पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूपम्; विशेषणम् (विमानानि); समासः—तत्पुरुष-प्रधानः (दिव्यगन्धयुक्तया स्रजा उज्ज्वलाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya yields refined enjoyments and luminous conveyances in higher realms.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as transient experience within saṃsāra (even celestial pleasures are conditioned).

Application: Cultivate sattvic conduct, charity, and devotion while remembering that heavenly rewards are impermanent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: aerial route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of vimānas and svarga-bhoga in the merit-fruit sections (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vimanas

FAQs

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

In this verse, vimānas symbolize an elevated post-death passage associated with purity and merit, depicted through spotless brilliance and divine fragrance.

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

It portrays a swift, luminous onward movement in celestial conveyances—imagery used in the Preta Kanda to contrast higher destinations gained through punya with harsher routes described elsewhere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate purity of conduct and meritorious actions (dharma, charity, restraint), since the text links a refined after-death experience with inner and outer purity.