Shloka 10

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

महानदीं रसवहां सृष्ट्वा वाप्यादिकं तथा / भक्ष्यभोज्यफलादींश्च कामधेनुं तथासृजत्

Transliteration

mahānadīṃ rasavahāṃ sṛṣṭvā vāpyādikaṃ tathā / bhakṣyabhojyaphalādīṃśca kāmadhenuṃ tathāsṛjat

Translation

Nachdem Er einen großen Strom erschaffen hatte, der mit nektargleichen Essenzen fließt, und ebenso Teiche und dergleichen, ließ Er ferner Speisen zum Essen und Genießen entstehen—Früchte und andere Gaben—und erschuf gleicherweise die wunscherfüllende Kuh Kāmadhenū.

Word by Word

• महानदीम्: a great river
• महानदीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानदी (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + नदी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रसवहाम्: carrying sap/juice (sweet waters)
• रसवहाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रसवहा (प्रातिपदिक) = रस + वहा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (महानदीम्)

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having created)

• वाप्यादिकम्: ponds and the like
• वाप्यादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वापी-आदि’ (ponds etc.)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भक्ष्यभोज्यफलादीन्: edibles, foods, fruits, etc.
• भक्ष्यभोज्यफलादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य + भोज्य + फल + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘भक्ष्य-भोज्य-फल-आदि’ (edibles, foods, fruits, etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कामधेनुम्: Kāmadhenu (wish-fulfilling cow)
• कामधेनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa/Vainateya in the Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s creative providence establishes the supports of life—water, food, and wish-fulfilling resources—so beings may pursue dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as jagat-kāraṇa and dharma-pravartaka; the world as ordered provision (ṛta) rather than chaos.

Application: Cultivate gratitude and restraint: treat food/water/cattle as sacred trusts; practice dāna and non-waste as dharmic response to abundance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/ācāra sections): praise of dāna and annadāna as sustaining dharma (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Kāmadhenū

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred waters (rivers and ponds) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames sacred waters as intentionally created divine provisions—sources of life, purification, and ritual support—rather than merely physical geography.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or after-death journey?

Indirectly: by emphasizing divinely arranged sustenance and ordered creation, it supports the Purāṇic view that the cosmos—including post-death realms described elsewhere—is structured and governed, not random.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat water sources and food as sacred trusts: protect rivers/ponds, avoid waste, and support dhārmic giving (anna-dāna and go-sevā), aligning daily life with reverence for divine sustenance.