Shloka 44

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

अपरोक्षवतीनां तु तासां लेपो न सर्वथा / अथवा मुद्गलस्येव रतिकाले खगेश्वर

Transliteration

aparokṣavatīnāṃ tu tāsāṃ lepo na sarvathā / athavā mudgalasyeva ratikāle khageśvara

Translation

أمّا النساء الحاضرات حضورًا مباشرًا (غير المنفصلات ولا المستترات)، فلا يلحقهنّ ألبتّة أيُّ «تلطّخ» أو دنس؛ وإلاّ، يا سيّد الطير (غارودا)، فالأمر كقضية مُدْغَلا عند وقت الجماع.

Word by Word

• अपरोक्ष-वतीनाम्: of the directly-perceiving (women)
• अपरोक्ष-वतीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपरोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अपरोक्षाः वत्यः)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• तासाम्: of those
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• लेपः: taint/smear
• लेपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• सर्वथा: at all / in any way
• सर्वथा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: in every way/at all)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive: or)

• मुद्गलस्य: of Mudgala
• मुद्गलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison base)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• रति-काले: at the time of intercourse/pleasure
• रति-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रतेः कालः)

• खग-ईश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खग-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Assessment of doṣa (fault/impurity) depends on presence/visibility and contextual dharma; not all situations incur taint.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied to dharma—distinguishing apparent impurity from real fault.

Application: Avoid blanket judgments about impurity; evaluate conduct by intent, context, and authoritative exemplars.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.45-48 (continuation on doṣa, exclusivity, and discernment)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Mudgala

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘lepa’ (taint/impurity) in Garuda Purana discussions?

This verse uses ‘lepa’ to clarify when impurity is considered applicable and when it is not, emphasizing dharma-based distinctions rather than blanket assumptions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or post-death context in Preta Kanda?

Within the Preta Kanda’s broader concern for subtle conditions and ritual states, the verse signals that certain states are judged by immediate presence and circumstance, which affects how rites and conduct are evaluated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Apply dharma with contextual discernment: follow purity/ritual rules thoughtfully, considering circumstance and intent, rather than treating all situations as identical.