Shloka 29

Brahmā’s Curse, Four Births, and the Dharma of Shared Embodiment

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

विसृज्य ताश्च तं देहं बभूवुर्नलकन्यकाः / इन्द्रसेनेति संज्ञां च लब्ध्वा ताश्च तपोवनम्

Transliteration

visṛjya tāśca taṃ dehaṃ babhūvurnalakanyakāḥ / indraseneti saṃjñāṃ ca labdhvā tāśca tapovanam

Translation

لمّا طرحنَ ذلك الجسد، تحوّلت فتياتُ نالا؛ وبعد أن نِلنَ اسم «إندراسينا»، مضينَ هنّ أيضًا إلى مُعتكف الغابة المكرَّس للتقشّف والنسك.

Word by Word

• visṛjya: having released/abandoned
• visṛjya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sṛj (सृज्) with vi (वि)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (Prathama), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• tam: that
• tam: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

• deham: body
• deham: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (देह)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

• babhūvuḥ: became
• babhūvuḥ: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha, Plural

• nalakanyakāḥ: daughters of Nala
• nalakanyakāḥ: Kartri-Samanadhikarana (Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nalakanyakā (नलकन्यका)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (Prathama), Plural

• indrasenā: Indrasena
• indrasenā: Karma (Object of naming)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indrasenā (इन्द्रसेना)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (Prathama), Singular (used with iti)

• iti: thus (named)
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle

• saṃjñām: name/designation
• saṃjñām: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃjñā (संज्ञा)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: labh (लभ्)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• tāḥ: they
• tāḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (Prathama), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• tapovanam: penance grove
• tapovanam: Karma (Destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapovana (तपोवन)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment and identity can shift as karmic conditions ripen; tapas redirects the trajectory of the jiva.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva of deha-nama-rupa; the self is distinct from changing upadhis.

Application: Cultivate vairagya toward body-based identity and adopt disciplines (tapas, vrata, japa) that reorient character and destiny.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/forest

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17 (narrative on transformations and naming)

Characters & Entities

• Indrasena
• Nalakanyakas
• Tapovana

FAQs

What is the importance of abandoning the body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents “casting off the body” as a decisive transition—signaling a completed phase of embodied identity and the start of a new spiritual or karmic trajectory.

How does this verse explain transformation or rebirth?

It depicts a change of state: after leaving the prior body, the figures are described as ‘becoming’ something new and even receiving a new name (Indrasenā), indicating a renewed identity shaped by destiny and discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from ego-based identity and commit to disciplined practice (tapas)—regular vows, restraint, study, and service—so inner transformation can occur even while living.