Shloka 36

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

एतासां रमणे काले उमायाः पक्षिसत्तम / अभिमानश्च नास्त्येव स्वाप एव रताः सदा

Transliteration

etāsāṃ ramaṇe kāle umāyāḥ pakṣisattama / abhimānaśca nāstyeva svāpa eva ratāḥ sadā

Translation

يا خيرَ الطير، حين تلهو هؤلاء الفتيات في حضرة أُوما، لا يكون فيهنّ كبرياءٌ البتّة؛ إنما هنّ دائمًا مولعاتٌ بالنوم وحده.

Word by Word

• एतासाम्: of these (women)
• एतासाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• रमणे: in union/enjoyment
• रमणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in enjoyment/sexual union’

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• उमायाः: of Umā
• उमायाः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पक्षि-सत्तम: O best of birds
• पक्षि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पक्षिणां सत्तमः)

• अभिमानः: self-identification/pride
• अभिमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/only)

• स्वापे: in sleep
• स्वापे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (only)

• रताः: are engaged
• रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, भूतकालिक), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘engaged/attached’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In certain states (play, proximity to a higher presence, or tamasic absorption), abhimāna can subside; ego is not constant but state-dependent.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṃkāra as a guṇa-vikāra; in nidrā-like laya, vṛttis withdraw and ego-assertion fades.

Application: Use contemplative rest, meditation, and devotional surrender to reduce egoic agitation; observe how fatigue and mental states alter self-assertion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.38 (sleep/dream explanation; no further deliberation)

Characters & Entities

• Umā
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of removing abhimāna (pride) in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a state where pride is absent, implying that ego (abhimāna) is a key obstacle to inner purity and spiritual steadiness.

How does this verse explain the mind’s condition in a divine setting?

Even in a context of pleasure and proximity to Umā, the verse describes an ego-less condition; it points to inner disposition (absence of pride) as more decisive than outer setting.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Watch for pride in moments of comfort or enjoyment, and cultivate humility and self-awareness so that pleasure does not inflate the ego.