Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 7

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

वनं जगाम गहनं हयानाञ्च शतैर्वृतः / सिंहनादैश्च योधानां शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिः स्वनैः

Transliteration

vanaṃ jagāma gahanaṃ hayānāñca śatairvṛtaḥ / siṃhanādaiśca yodhānāṃ śaṅkhadundubhiniḥ svanaiḥ

Translation

他进入幽深密林，周围簇拥着数百骏马；战士们狮吼般的呼声，与海螺号角及大鼓之声一同轰然回荡。

Word by Word

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• gahanam: dense
• gahanam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (vanam)

• hayānām: of horses
• hayānām: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• śataiḥ: by hundreds
• śataiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle)

• siṃha-nādaiḥ: with lion-roars
• siṃha-nādaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सिंहस्य नादः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• yodhānām: of warriors
• yodhānām: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• śaṅkha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaiḥ: with the sounds of conches and drums
• śaṅkha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (शङ्खानां च दुन्दुभीनां च निःस्वनाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: forest/wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative sequences describing royal expeditions and the sounds of armies (motif-level)

Characters & Entities

• Warriors (yodhāḥ)
• Horses (hayāḥ)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “dense forest” imagery in Garuda Purana?

The dense forest functions as a symbolic landscape of fear and uncertainty, portraying the daunting transition and obstacles faced during the soul’s onward journey.

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

By depicting overwhelming sounds and a perilous environment, the verse conveys the intimidating atmosphere associated with the post-death journey, where the departed confronts frightening experiences shaped by prior deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate courage and ethical discipline (dharma) in life—right conduct reduces fear and confusion, and supports calmness during life’s transitions and end-of-life rites.