Shloka 2

Devanagari script

ईषादण्डस्तथैवास्य द्विगुणो वृषभध्वज / सार्धकोटिस्तथा सप्त नियुतान्यधिकानि च

Transliteration

īṣādaṇḍastathaivāsya dviguṇo vṛṣabhadhvaja / sārdhakoṭistathā sapta niyutānyadhikāni ca

Translation

O Herr mit dem Stierbanner (Śiva), die Deichselstange (īṣā-daṇḍa) ist ebenso doppelt so lang; ihr Maß beträgt siebeneinhalb Koṭis, dazu noch zusätzliche Niyutas.

Word by Word

• īṣā-daṇḍaḥ: the pole-shaft
• īṣā-daṇḍaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īṣā + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tathā: thus/also
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• asya: of it/of him
• asya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dviguṇaḥ: double
• dviguṇaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• vṛṣabhadhvaja: O one whose banner is a bull
• vṛṣabhadhvaja: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य’

• sārdha-koṭiḥ: one and a half crores
• sārdha-koṭiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārdha + koṭi (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सार्ध’ = अर्धाधिक (with a half)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (यहाँ) विशेषणरूपेण

• niyutāni: niyutas (ten-thousands)
• niyutāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• adhikāni: additional
• adhikāni: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda; verse contains an address to Śiva as vṛṣabhadhvaja)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmos is articulated through proportion (dviguṇa) and number (koṭi, niyuta), suggesting intelligible structure behind phenomena.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as orderly appearance governed by māyā/niyati; numbers as upāya for grasping the ungraspable vastness.

Application: Train the mind in śāstric numeracy and disciplined attention; reflect on human smallness to reduce ahaṅkāra and cultivate humility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial mechanism/yoke-pole

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58.1 (Sun chariot measure); Garuda Purana 1.58.3-1.58.5 (axle/wheel/time-wheel continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Shiva (Vṛṣabhadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the importance of numerical measures like koṭi and niyuta in the Garuda Purana?

They convey vast Purāṇic scales—using traditional Indian number units—to describe cosmic structures or standards, emphasizing immensity rather than everyday measurement.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is cosmological/metrical in tone; it does not directly describe the soul’s journey but contributes to the Purāṇic framework of vast worlds and measures within which afterlife narratives are situated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages humility and perspective: the Purāṇa frames reality on immense scales, prompting a dharmic life focused on lasting values rather than narrow, short-term concerns.