Shloka 12

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

आदित्याच्चैव गङ्गातः पर्जन्यः समुदाहृतः / प्रवर्षति सुवैराग्यं ह्यतः पर्जन्यनामकम्

Transliteration

ādityāccaiva gaṅgātaḥ parjanyaḥ samudāhṛtaḥ / pravarṣati suvairāgyaṃ hyataḥ parjanyanāmakam

Translation

Von der Sonne und auch von der Gaṅgā wird «Parjanya», die regenbringende Kraft, genannt. Weil er vortreffliches Vairāgya (Entsagung) ausgießt, heißt er darum Parjanya.

Word by Word

• आदित्याच्च: from the Sun, and
• आदित्याच्च: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; ‘-आत्’ + च (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• गङ्गातः: from Ganga
• गङ्गातः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन

• पर्जन्यः: Parjanya (rain-cloud)
• पर्जन्यः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्जन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समुदाहृतः: is declared
• समुदाहृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) → समुदाहृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is stated/declared’

• प्रवर्षति: rains forth/causes to rain
• प्रवर्षति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सुवैराग्यम्: excellent dispassion
• सुवैराग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु + वैराग्यम्)

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

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore/from this)

• पर्जन्यनामकम्: named ‘Parjanya’
• पर्जन्यनामकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्जन्य-नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पर्जन्य-नाम) ‘named Parjanya’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vairāgya arises as a purifying ‘rain’ sourced in illumination (Sun) and sanctity (Gaṅgā), washing the mind toward release.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka–vairāgya as preparatory sādhana for jñāna; purification (citta-śuddhi) as the condition for liberation.

Application: Cultivate daily practices that ‘rain’ dispassion: japa, sat-saṅga, contemplation on impermanence, and ritual/ethical purity that cools craving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred river; celestial luminary

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda): recurring praise of vairāgya as the gateway to mokṣa; imagery of purification through sacred waters

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Sun)
• Ganga
• Parjanya

FAQs

What is the importance of Parjanya in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Parjanya is not only rain but a purifying force linked with Surya and Gaṅgā, symbolically ‘showering’ the mind with strong detachment (vairāgya).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and liberation themes found in the Garuda Purana?

The Garuda Purana repeatedly frames liberation as requiring purification and dispassion; here, the imagery of ‘rain’ emphasizes the cleansing of attachment, which supports progress toward moksha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily practices that ‘wash’ attachment—truthful living, charity, remembrance of impermanence, and disciplined devotion—so that vairāgya naturally arises like a steady rain.