Shloka 10

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

रामस्य सेवां कर्तुं सा सीता भूम्यां खगाधिप / बलभद्रस्तु रोहिण्यां वसुदेवादभूत्खग

Transliteration

rāmasya sevāṃ kartuṃ sā sītā bhūmyāṃ khagādhipa / balabhadrastu rohiṇyāṃ vasudevādabhūtkhaga

Translation

হে খগাধিপ, ৰামৰ সেৱা কৰিবলৈ সেই সীতা পৃথিৱীত প্ৰাদুৰ্ভাৱ হ’ল; আৰু হে খগ, বলভদ্ৰ (বলৰাম) ৰোহিণীৰ গৰ্ভে বসুদেৱৰ পৰা জন্ম ল’লে।

Word by Word

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• सेवाम्: service
• सेवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• कर्तुम्: to do / to perform
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमन्त/तुमुनन्त), expressing purpose (प्रयोजन)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• भूम्याम्: on the earth
• भूम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• खगाधिप: O lord of birds
• खगाधिप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• बलभद्रः: Balabhadra
• बलभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• रोहिण्याम्: in Rohini (womb)
• रोहिण्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वसुदेवात्: from Vasudeva
• वसुदेवात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अभूत्: became / was born
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• खग: (as) a bird
• खग: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine associates manifest with intentionality to serve the avatāra’s mission; sevā is presented as a cosmic principle, not merely human duty.

Vedantic Theme: Līlā and parikara (divine retinue); purposeful embodiment for dharma-sādhana; śakti (Sītā) and bala (Balabhadra) as supportive powers.

Application: See supportive roles as sacred: serve a righteous cause without craving centrality; align talents to collective dharma-work.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: realm/world

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana avatāra narratives and identifications of Sītā/Balabhadra in this section

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Rama
• Sita
• Balabhadra (Balarama)
• Rohini
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana?

It links major divine manifestations—Sītā’s appearance on earth for service to Rāma and Balabhadra’s birth through Rohiṇī and Vasudeva—showing how avatāras arise for dharma and divine purpose.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting divine descent and service (sevā), it frames liberation-oriented life as aligning oneself with dharma and devotion, rather than focusing on punishment or afterlife mechanics in this specific line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sevā (selfless service) and dharmic conduct—seeing spiritual progress as rooted in devoted action and right living.