Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

झणत्कारस्तु घण्टानां भेरीणां भाङ्कृतिस्तथा / जातस्तदा राजसेना चतुरङ्गा समापतत्

Transliteration

jhaṇatkārastu ghaṇṭānāṃ bherīṇāṃ bhāṅkṛtistathā / jātastadā rājasenā caturaṅgā samāpatat

Translation

随即钟铃铿锵作响，战鼓轰然震鸣；就在那一刻，王家四部军阵齐备的大军奔涌而至。

Word by Word

• झणत्कारः: clanging sound
• झणत्कारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झणत्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• घण्टानाम्: of bells
• घण्टानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भेरीणाम्: of kettle-drums
• भेरीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भाङ्कृतिः: blaring sound
• भाङ्कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाङ्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• जातः: arose/occurred
• जातः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (Time/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• राजसेना: the king's army
• राजसेना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः सेना)

• चतुरङ्गा: fourfold (with four divisions)
• चतुरङ्गा: Visheshana (Adjective of राजसेना/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारि अङ्गानि यस्याः)

• समापतत्: rushed/attacked
• समापतत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आपत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield/approach route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative episodes where royal intervention frames ritual/afterlife outcomes

Characters & Entities

• Royal army
• Bells
• War-drums (bheris)

FAQs

What is the importance of the fourfold army (caturaṅgā) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, “caturaṅgā” emphasizes a complete, forceful arrival—an image of unavoidable authority and consequence within the unfolding narrative.

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

It contributes to the dramatic progression of events through auditory omens (bells and drums) and the sudden approach of power, reflecting how the soul’s post-death journey is portrayed as structured and inescapable.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat life as accountable: the verse’s imagery of an approaching, organized force can be taken as a reminder to live ethically and prepare through dharma-oriented conduct rather than delay repentance.