Shloka 38

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

उमादेः श्याम लादेश्च अभिमानक्षतिस्तदा / सर्वासां स्वाप एव स्यान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

umādeḥ śyāma lādeśca abhimānakṣatistadā / sarvāsāṃ svāpa eva syānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

وأمّا ما كان من العلامات المبتدئة بأُوما وبشياما ونحوِهما، فثمرته حينئذٍ جرحُ الأبهيمانا (ذهابُ الشرف). وفي جميع هذه الأحوال يُقال إنها من شأن النوم فحسب (كالحلم)، فلا حاجة إلى مزيد من التفكّر.

Word by Word

• उमादेः: of Umā
• उमादेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• श्याम: Śyāma (name)
• श्याम: समुच्चित-निर्देश (co-referent mention)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular (name)

• लादेश्: of Lāda (name)
• लादेश्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular (as in लादेश्च = लादस्य च)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अभिमानक्षतिः: injury to pride
• अभिमानक्षतिः: कर्ता/विधेय-नाम (Karta as subject-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमान (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (abhimānasya kṣatiḥ)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सर्वासाम्: of all (women)
• सर्वासाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural (qualifying implied स्त्रीणाम्)

• स्वापः: sleep
• स्वापः: कर्ता/विधेय-नाम (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: विशेषण-अव्यय (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• न: not
• न: निषेध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: देशाधिकरण (place adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कार्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्या: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• विचारणा: consideration/inquiry
• विचारणा: कर्ता/विधेय-नाम (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain experiences that seem to affect honor/ego are to be treated as svapna-like (non-ultimate), not worthy of over-analysis; abhimāna-kṣati is contextual and dissolvable.

Vedantic Theme: Svapna-dṛṣṭānta and mithyātva: what appears impactful to ego can be reclassified as non-binding appearance; reduction of ahaṃkāra through right appraisal.

Application: When ego is wounded, reframe the episode as transient mental impression; avoid rumination and return to steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.36 (they are devoted to sleep); Garuda Purana 3.17.34-37 (taxonomy of abhimāna across contexts)

Characters & Entities

• Umā

FAQs

What is the importance of dream-omens (svapna/nimitta) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain named omens as minor and dream-like, advising that they need not be over-analyzed; their stated effect is mainly a temporary blow to one’s honor or self-regard.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: in the Preta Kanda’s broader teaching, not every sign is a decisive spiritual verdict; some impressions are merely dream-related and should not be mistaken for final indicators of the soul’s post-death fate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not become anxious or superstitious about every dream or trivial omen—maintain steadiness, protect your conduct and reputation through dharma, and avoid unnecessary speculation.