Shloka 12

Devanagari script

अधर्मिष्ठाश्च शूद्राश्च भविष्यन्ति नृपास्ततः / स्वर्गादिकृद्धि भगवान्साक्षान्नारायणो ऽव्ययः

Transliteration

adharmiṣṭhāśca śūdrāśca bhaviṣyanti nṛpāstataḥ / svargādikṛddhi bhagavānsākṣānnārāyaṇo 'vyayaḥ

Translation

Then kings will arise who are intensely unrighteous and of śūdra disposition. Yet the Lord—imperishable Nārāyaṇa Himself—remains the direct bestower of prosperity beginning with heaven.

Word by Word

• अधर्मिष्ठाः: most unrighteous
• अधर्मिष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर्मिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; अधर्म + इष्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अतिशयार्थक-इष्ठ-प्रत्यय (superlative: most unrighteous)

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

• शूद्राः: Śūdras
• शूद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्/ततः इति अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (thereafter/then)

• स्वर्गादिकृत्: creator of heaven and the rest
• स्वर्गादिकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग-आदि-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; स्वर्ग + आदि + कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गादीन् करोति इति)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक (directly/in person)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Narayana) addressing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even amid adharmic governance, ultimate dispensation of prosperity (including svarga) rests with imperishable Nārāyaṇa; dharma’s decline does not negate divine lordship.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sarvaniyantṛtva (God as supreme governor) and nityatva of Nārāyaṇa beyond historical fluctuation.

Application: Do not anchor hope solely in political order; cultivate personal dharma and devotion, seeking refuge in Nārāyaṇa while acting ethically under imperfect rulers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kingdoms (general)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.13-14 (cosmic dissolution teaching that further relativizes worldly power)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Nṛpas (kings)
• Śūdras

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

It warns that when rulers become adharma-driven, society declines; yet ultimate outcomes (like svarga and other attainments) remain under Nārāyaṇa’s governance, emphasizing dharma as the standard for rightful rule.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it states that heavenly attainments are granted by Nārāyaṇa, implying that despite social disorder, the soul’s destinations are governed by divine law aligned with one’s karma and dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not base ethics on the quality of leadership alone; maintain personal dharma and devotion, remembering that higher welfare (svarga and beyond) depends on righteous conduct and the Lord’s order.