Shloka 54

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

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

उत्पादयित्वा बभ्रुवाहं च पुत्रं तस्यां त्यक्त्वा ह्यर्जुनो वै महात्मा / अतश्चोभे वारचित्राङ्गदे च शचीरूपे नात्र विवार्यमस्ति

Transliteration

utpādayitvā babhruvāhaṃ ca putraṃ tasyāṃ tyaktvā hyarjuno vai mahātmā / ataścobhe vāracitrāṅgade ca śacīrūpe nātra vivāryamasti

Translation

Nachdem Arjuna, der Großgesinnte, in ihr einen Sohn namens Babruvāha gezeugt hatte, verließ er jenen Ort. Darum sind sowohl Vārā als auch Citrāṅgadā als Trägerinnen der Gestalt Śacīs zu verstehen; daran ist nichts zu zweifeln.

Word by Word

• utpādayitvā: having produced
• utpādayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-pad (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (absolutive/gerund); causative sense ‘having begotten/produced’ (utpāday-)

• babhru-vāham: Babhruvāha (name)
• babhru-vāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: babhru (प्रातिपदिक) + vāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: babhroḥ vāhaḥ (Babhruvāha, proper name)

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tasyām: in her
• tasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (absolutive); √tyaj (to abandon)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• arjunaḥ: Arjuna
• arjunaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• mahātmā: great-souled
• mahātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: mahān ātmā yasya (great-souled)

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (therefore)

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• ubhe: both (two women)
• ubhe: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• vāra: Vāra (name element)
• vāra: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; here as name element

• citra-aṅgade: Citrā and Aṅgadā (names)
• citra-aṅgade: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (as part of dual with ubhe); karmadhāraya/proper-name compound; intended as two names: Citrā and Aṅgadā (text fused)

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• śacī-rūpe: in the form of Śacī
• śacī-rūpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śacyāḥ rūpam (form of Śacī)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (here)

• vivāryam: to be prevented/denied
• vivāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tavya-pratyaya (gerundive/necessitative), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘to be prevented/obstructed’ from √vṛ (to cover/ward off) with vi-

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; √as (to be)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eka-tattva appearing as multiple personae: Vārā and Citrāṅgadā are asserted as Śacī-rūpa manifestations.

Vedantic Theme: Apparent multiplicity (bheda) over an underlying continuity; interpretive certainty (niścaya) in Purāṇic hermeneutics.

Application: Hold life-events (birth, separation) within a wider frame; reduce possessiveness by seeing roles as transient forms within a larger order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: royal kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28 (continuation of Śacī’s manifestations and related identifications)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Babruvāha
• Citrāṅgadā
• Śacī
• Vārā

FAQs

What is the importance of Babruvāha (Babruvāhana) in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse records Arjuna begetting Babruvāha, anchoring a genealogical and narrative link used by the Purana to clarify identities and forms associated with the characters mentioned.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings in Garuda Purana?

This specific verse is primarily a narrative clarification about Arjuna and associated identities (Śacī-rūpa) rather than a direct instruction on preta-gati, Yama’s realm, or post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat scriptural narratives carefully: note names, relationships, and identifications precisely before drawing conclusions—especially when using Purana passages for teaching, discourse, or ritual-context citations.