Shloka 2

Vināyaka-pīḍā: Omens, Purification, Crossroads Offerings, and Ambikā Svastyayana

Devanagari script

विमना विफलारम्भः संसदित्यनिमित्ततः / राजा राज्यं कुमारी च पतिं पुत्रं च गुर्विणी

Transliteration

vimanā viphalārambhaḥ saṃsadityanimittataḥ / rājā rājyaṃ kumārī ca patiṃ putraṃ ca gurviṇī

Translation

Without any apparent cause, the mind grows dejected; undertakings begin yet end fruitlessly; an assembly turns hostile; a king loses his kingdom; an unmarried maiden fails to obtain a husband; and a pregnant woman loses her child.

Word by Word

• विमना: dejected, dispirited
• विमना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative singular; adjective)

• विफलारम्भः: one whose undertaking is fruitless
• विफलारम्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विफल (प्रातिपदिक) + आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative singular; adjective)

• संसदि: in the assembly
• संसदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (Feminine, Locative singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमनार्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अनिमित्ततः: without any cause; causelessly
• अनिमित्ततः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; हेत्वर्थे (ablatival adverb; 'without cause/from no reason')

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• कुमारी: maiden, young woman
• कुमारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गुर्विणी: pregnant woman
• गुर्विणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुर्विणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, contextual attribution for Garuda Purana dialogues)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adverse, seemingly causeless reversals are read as animitta/ariṣṭa—signals of unseen impurity or ripening karma requiring remedial action.

Vedantic Theme: Adṛṣṭa (unseen causality) and karma-phala operating beyond immediate perception; impermanence of worldly supports.

Application: Treat repeated ‘without cause’ failures as a cue for self-audit (ethics, vows), purification, prayer, and seeking learned counsel rather than fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa and śānti-prāyaścitta contexts (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘animitta’ (cause-less) misfortune in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that suffering and reversals can arise from unseen causes—often understood as latent karma—appearing ‘without reason’ in ordinary perception.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader view of karma?

It reflects the Purana’s theme that outcomes are not only driven by immediate actions but also by accumulated karmic impressions that ripen unexpectedly, affecting mind, success, status, marriage prospects, and childbirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When setbacks arise without clear cause, use the moment for self-audit, ethical correction (dharma), prayer/discipline, and patient effort rather than despair or blaming others.