Shloka 25

रामायणकथासंक्षेपः — ब्रह्मोक्तो रामावतारवृत्तान्तः

Devanagari script

सप्त तालान्विनिर्भिद्य शरेणानतपर्वणा / वालिनञ्च विनिर्भिद्य किष्किन्धायां हरीश्वरम्

Transliteration

sapta tālānvinirbhidya śareṇānataparvaṇā / vālinañca vinirbhidya kiṣkindhāyāṃ harīśvaram

Translation

With a single arrow whose joints were unbent, he pierced through seven tāla trees; and in Kiṣkindhā he also pierced Vālin, the lord among the vānara.

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तालान्’); (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• तालान्: tāla trees
• तालान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (plural)

• विनिर्भिद्य: having pierced
• विनिर्भिद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having pierced/split’

• शरेण: with an arrow
• शरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अनतपर्वणा: with an unbending (straight-jointed) arrow
• अनतपर्वणा: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनत (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अनतं पर्व यस्य’/‘अनतपर्व’ = ‘with unbent joints/sections’; विशेषण (qualifying ‘शरेण’)

• वालिनम्: Vālin
• वालिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• विनिर्भिद्य: having pierced/killed
• विनिर्भिद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having pierced’

• किष्किन्धायाम्: in Kiṣkindhā
• किष्किन्धायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किष्किन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• हरीश्वरम्: the lord of the monkeys
• हरीश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हरीणाम् ईश्वरः’ = ‘lord of the monkeys’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as narrator in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣātra-dharma: strength disciplined by purpose; power is shown not for vanity but to uphold a righteous alliance and remove oppression.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumentality (nimitta) of the divine in restoring order; action aligned with dharma purifies intention.

Application: Use competence and authority responsibly; demonstrate capability when needed to protect agreements and prevent injustice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: vānarā realm/city-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.143.24 (alliance with Sugrīva leading to Vālin episode)

Characters & Entities

• Vālin
• Kiṣkindhā
• Vānara (monkeys)
• Tāla trees

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'seven tāla trees' episode in the Garuda Purana?

It is cited as a proof of extraordinary, divinely sanctioned prowess—establishing the hero’s capacity to uphold dharma and accomplish a righteous mission.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana’s moral teaching?

By recalling a well-known Itihāsa event (Vālin’s slaying and the seven trees), the text reinforces that power must be aligned with dharma and used to restore rightful order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate strength and skill, but apply them ethically—use capability to protect the vulnerable and correct injustice rather than for ego or domination.