Shloka 18

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

तं दारयति वज्रेण यस्मात्तस्मात्पुरन्दरः / चतुर्दशसु चेन्द्रेषु मन्त्रद्युम्नस्तु षष्ठकः

Transliteration

taṃ dārayati vajreṇa yasmāttasmātpurandaraḥ / caturdaśasu cendreṣu mantradyumnastu ṣaṣṭhakaḥ

Translation

Weil er es mit dem Vajra (Donnerkeil) spaltet, heißt er daher Purandara, der „Zerstörer der Festung“. Und unter den vierzehn Indras ist Mantradyumna der sechste.

Word by Word

• tam: him/that (body/city)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• dārayati: splits, pierces
• dārayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛ (दॄ/दर् धातु; दारयति = causative/णिच्)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• vajreṇa: with the thunderbolt
• vajreṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• yasmāt: because/from which
• yasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• tasmāt: therefore, from that
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान/therefore)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• purandaraḥ: (he is called) Purandara
• purandaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• caturdaśasu: among the fourteen
• caturdaśasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• indreṣu: among the Indras
• indreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• mantra-dyumnaḥ: Mantradyumna (name)
• mantra-dyumnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra + dyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कर्मधारय-सम्भाव्यः): मन्त्र-सम्बन्धी द्युम्नः/तेजः यस्य

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• ṣaṣṭhakaḥ: the sixth
• ṣaṣṭhakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal: sixth)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Names arise from actions (karma-nāma); righteous force may be required to break obstructive ‘fortresses’ of adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as functional expression within māyā; dharmic action as maintenance of cosmic balance.

Application: Let identity be grounded in deeds; confront obstruction with disciplined strength rather than passivity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s explanatory etymologies of divine epithets in cosmology sections; Lists of fourteen Indras and their names recur in puranic catalogues

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Purandara
• Mantradyumna

FAQs

What is the importance of the name Purandara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse explains the etymology: Indra is called Purandara because he ‘breaks/cleaves’ (dārayati) with the vajra, i.e., he destroys strongholds and obstacles.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it situates the afterlife teaching within a larger cosmic framework: offices like ‘Indra’ change across cycles, reminding the listener that worldly power is temporary compared to dharma and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat titles and status as temporary roles; focus on disciplined action (dharma) and inner strength rather than pride in position.