Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 41

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

घोषश्चिन्ता च गाम्भीर्यं श्रवणं सत्यसंक्रमः / आकाशस्य गुणाः पञ्च ज्ञात व्यास्तार्क्ष्य यत्नतः

Transliteration

ghoṣaścintā ca gāmbhīryaṃ śravaṇaṃ satyasaṃkramaḥ / ākāśasya guṇāḥ pañca jñāta vyāstārkṣya yatnataḥ

Translation

声音、内省思惟、深沉、听闻之能，以及如实传达——此为阿迦舍(ākāśa，虚空/以太)的五种德相。噢，塔尔克夏(Tārkṣya，迦楼罗)，当勤谨了知。

Word by Word

• घोषः: sound
• घोषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चिन्ता: thought, reflection
• चिन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• गाम्भीर्यम्: depth, gravity
• गाम्भीर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाम्भीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रवणम्: hearing
• श्रवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्यसंक्रमः: passage/transition of truth (truthfulness)
• सत्यसंक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सत्यस्य संक्रमः)

• आकाशस्य: of ether/space
• आकाशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; गुणान् विशेषयति

• ज्ञात: are known/should be known
• ज्ञात: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); (पुंलिङ्ग) प्रथमा, बहुवचन अपेक्षितम्; पाठे ‘ज्ञात’ इति छन्दसि/लिप्यन्तरे; अर्थः ‘known/understood’

• व्यास्त: O attentive/engaged (lit. ‘occupied/arranged’)
• व्यास्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अस् (धातु) → व्यस्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (तार्क्ष्यं विशेषयति)

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• यत्नतः: carefully, with effort
• यत्नतः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्नतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (with effort)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ākāśa is characterized by śabda and the capacities that depend on ‘space’: hearing, inner reflection, depth, and truthful transmission.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as pramāṇa (means of knowledge) and the role of inner space for discernment; purity of speech aligns with sattva and clarity.

Application: Practice deep listening, reduce noise, cultivate truthful speech, and use mantra/recitation to refine inner space and thought.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.42 (indriyas, including śrotra)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tarkshya)
• Akasha (ether/space)

FAQs

What is the importance of Akasha (ether) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ākāśa as the foundational element linked with sound and hearing, framing how subtle qualities (like śabda) underlie perception and the subtle body’s functions.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By defining the qualities of ākāśa—especially sound and hearing—the text supports the Purana’s broader subtle-body framework, through which the departed experiences impressions and guidance in the post-death passages.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate truthful speech and mindful listening: the verse links “truthful conveyance” with the etheric principle of sound, encouraging ethical communication and disciplined attention.