Shloka 10

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

द्वितीयेनैव रूपेण गङ्गा भार्या च शन्तनोः / सुषेणा वै सुषेणस्य भार्या सा वानरी स्मृता

Transliteration

dvitīyenaiva rūpeṇa gaṅgā bhāryā ca śantanoḥ / suṣeṇā vai suṣeṇasya bhāryā sā vānarī smṛtā

Translation

وفي صورتها الثانية صارت الغانغا زوجةَ الملك شنتنو. وأما «سوشينا»—المذكورة بأنها «فانَري» (امرأة قرد)—فقد كانت حقًّا زوجةَ سوشينا.

Word by Word

• dvitīyena: by/with the second
• dvitīyena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; used with ‘rūpeṇa’

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; emphatic particle

• rūpeṇa: by (her) form
• rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śantanoḥ: of Śantanu
• śantanoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śantanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• suṣeṇā: Suṣeṇā
• suṣeṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suṣeṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; emphatic particle (वै)

• suṣeṇasya: of Suṣeṇa
• suṣeṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suṣeṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• vānarī: a she-monkey (vānarī)
• vānarī: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun

• smṛtā: is called/was known
• smṛtā: Kriyā (क्रियासमाना)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively ‘is said/known as’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purāṇic-itihāsa integration: one divine principle assumes roles within human history (queen, consort) and non-human lineages (vānarī) without losing essential sanctity.

Vedantic Theme: Līlā and upādhi: the divine appearing through varied limiting adjuncts; identity across transformations.

Application: Read mythic genealogies as symbolic mappings of values and relationships; maintain reverence for the sacred even when it appears in worldly roles.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/riverine kingdom context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.9 (four forms); Garuda Purana 3.29.11 (Māṇḍūkinī)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shantanu
• Sushena
• Sushena (female: Sushena/Suṣeṇā)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing multiple forms (rūpas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how a single being may be remembered through different manifestations and relationships, helping preserve Purāṇic lineages and identity-mappings across narratives.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

Although not a death-ritual verse, it reflects the Purāṇic method of linking sacred figures (like Gaṅgā) to historical-kingship and remembered forms, which supports continuity of dharma narratives across chapters.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred names and stories with contextual care—many traditions preserve layered identities; studying them patiently improves scriptural literacy and respectful ritual or recitation practice.