Shloka 18

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

मत्सेवां च किमर्थं वै ह्याचरिष्यन्ति सुव्रताः / तस्यां रक्ताश्च ता देव्यस्त्वब्रुवन्स्वचिकीर्षितम्

Transliteration

matsevāṃ ca kimarthaṃ vai hyācariṣyanti suvratāḥ / tasyāṃ raktāśca tā devyastvabruvansvacikīrṣitam

Translation

„Und zu welchem Zweck, wahrlich, werdet ihr, die ihr edle Gelübde haltet, Mir Dienst erweisen?“—so fragte sie. Da sprachen jene Göttinnen, ihr in Hingabe zugetan, aus, was sie selbst zu tun beabsichtigten.

Word by Word

• मत्-सेवाम्: service to me
• मत्-सेवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत् = मम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• किम्-अर्थम्: for what reason/why
• किम्-अर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय; अर्थे ‘कस्मै कारणाय’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; often causal/emphatic)

• आचरिष्यन्ति: will practice/perform
• आचरिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सुव्रताः: the virtuous (vow-observing) ones
• सुव्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तस्याम्: in her/therein
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रक्ताः: attached/affectionate
• रक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (attached/affectionate)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताः: those (f.)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देव्यः: goddesses/divine ladies
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/contrast)

• अब्रुवन्: said/spoke
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्व-चिकीर्षितम्: their own intended action
• स्व-चिकीर्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + चिकीर्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; desiderative PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘स्वस्य चिकीर्षितम्’ (intended act)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra contextually)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True sevā is purposeful and intention-revealing; the deity tests and clarifies the devotee’s aim before granting guidance.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of saṅkalpa (intention) precedes grace; devotion matures into right desire aligned with dharma.

Application: Before seeking blessings/skills, examine motives; articulate intentions honestly; align goals with welfare and righteousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.17 (their long service leading to this question)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devyas (goddesses)

FAQs

What is the importance of mat-sevā (service to Vishnu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames devotion as purposeful practice: the “suvrataḥ” undertake service with a clear intention, indicating that bhakti is not merely ritual but a deliberate, vow-supported path of dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana themes?

Even within Preta-kāṇḍa’s after-death framework, the text repeatedly stresses intention and devotion; here, the focus is on the inner resolve (svacikīrṣitam) behind worship, which complements external rites by shaping one’s spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice worship/service with a defined ethical aim—steadfastness in vows (suvrata) and clarity of intention—so that daily devotion becomes disciplined conduct, not just performance.