Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 79

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

अतः पृच्छाम्यहं किञ्चिदाधिभूतं चिरन्तनम् / किं कुर्यां कं नु पृच्छे ऽहं मनो मे ऽतिचलं मुने

Transliteration

ataḥ pṛcchāmyahaṃ kiñcidādhibhūtaṃ cirantanam / kiṃ kuryāṃ kaṃ nu pṛcche 'haṃ mano me 'ticalaṃ mune

Translation

因此我请问您，噢牟尼，关于一件古老之事，关乎有身众生之界。我当作何行？又当向谁请问？我的心极其躁动不安，噢圣者。

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Discourse/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ-सम्बन्धी अव्यय (therefore/for this reason)

• पृच्छामि: I ask
• पृच्छामि: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्/पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: something
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रमाण (something)

• आधिभूतम्: pertaining to the adhibhūta (elemental realm)
• आधिभूतम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आधि-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अधिभूत-सम्बन्धि)

• चिरन्तनम्: ancient, everlasting
• चिरन्तनम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिरन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (Interrogative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• कुर्याम्: should I do?
• कुर्याम्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कम्: whom?
• कम्: Karma (Interrogative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• नु: indeed/then (particle)
• नु: Discourse/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न-निपात (interrogative particle)

• पृच्छे: should I ask?
• पृच्छे: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्/पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• अतिचलम्: very restless
• अतिचलम्: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अत्यन्तं चलम्)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing a sage (muni)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Restless mind and uncertainty about right action are resolved through proper inquiry (praśna) to a competent sage regarding the embodied realm (ādhibhūta).

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāritva and śravaṇa: turning from scattered seeking to disciplined questioning; movement from manas-cañcalatā toward viveka through guidance.

Application: When mentally agitated, reduce inputs, formulate a clear question, and consult a trusted teacher/elder rather than crowdsourcing from many sources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (didactic dialogues where the questioner confesses agitation before receiving upadeśa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Muni

FAQs

What is the importance of ādhibhūta (the embodied realm) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the discussion as practical and human-facing—truths that apply to embodied life and its consequences, which in the Preta Kanda connect to death rites, moral causality, and the post-death journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By showing Garuda’s urgency and mental restlessness, it sets up the need for authoritative guidance about what should be done (ritual and ethical action) and whom to consult—preparing for teachings on what happens after death and how actions affect the preta’s course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When confused about duty and life’s consequences, seek a competent guide and ask clear questions; steady the mind through disciplined inquiry and dharmic action rather than impulsive decision-making.