Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तेन धूलिनिरोधाय क्षिप्तं नीरं च लिङ्गके / शरः प्रमादेनैकस्तु प्रच्युतः करपल्लवात्

Transliteration

tena dhūlinirodhāya kṣiptaṃ nīraṃ ca liṅgake / śaraḥ pramādenaikastu pracyutaḥ karapallavāt

Translation

To lay the dust, he sprinkled water upon the liṅga; yet through a moment’s carelessness, a single arrow slipped and fell from the gentle grasp of his hand.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धूलिनिरोधाय: for stopping dust
• धूलिनिरोधाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूलि + निरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (धूल्याः निरोधः)

• क्षिप्तम्: thrown/sprinkled
• क्षिप्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘thrown/sprinkled’

• नीरम्: water
• नीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• लिङ्गके: on/into the liṅga (small liṅga)
• लिङ्गके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शरः: an arrow
• शरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रमादेन: through negligence
• प्रमादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अन्वय (particle: but/indeed)

• प्रच्युतः: slipped/fell off
• प्रच्युतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + च्युत (कृदन्त; √च्यु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘fallen off/slipped’

• करपल्लवात्: from the hand
• करपल्लवात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर + पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (करः एव पल्लवः = ‘hand like a tender shoot’, i.e., hand)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ajñāta-puṇya: merit can accrue even through inadvertence when actions coincide with sacred forms (water-offering, care, attention).

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s subtlety: results arise from complex causal webs beyond deliberate intention alone.

Application: Do not dismiss small reverential acts; cultivate carefulness (apramāda) and respect around sacred spaces and symbols.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest shrine-like spot in wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, narratives where inadvertent pūjā (water, flowers, touch, vigil) yields spiritual benefit; Garuda Purana, emphasis on apramāda vs. pramāda in karmic outcomes

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (as Liṅga)

FAQs

What is the importance of pramāda (carelessness) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that even during worship, a small lapse (pramāda) can cause an unintended action, underscoring the Purana’s emphasis on mindful conduct and its karmic sensitivity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing how minor actions and accidental lapses arise in life, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that the soul’s post-death experiences are shaped by the totality of deeds—intentional and negligent—evaluated in moral accounting.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform rituals and daily duties with attention and calm; reduce haste and distraction, because negligence can create avoidable harm even when intentions are devotional.