Shloka 4

Devanagari script

इत्येवं शङ्करेणोक्तमनादृत्य तु तद्वचः / भक्षयामासुरव्यग्रास्त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्

Transliteration

ityevaṃ śaṅkareṇoktamanādṛtya tu tadvacaḥ / bhakṣayāmāsuravyagrāstrailokyaṃ sacarācaram

Translation

Thus, disregarding the words spoken by Śaṅkara, those agitated beings began to devour the entire three worlds—together with all that moves and all that is unmoving.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘in this manner’

• शङ्करेण: by Śaṅkara
• शङ्करेण: Kartr/Agent (in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (Passive predicate: ‘said’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनादृत्य: having disregarded
• अनादृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्-आ-दृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having disregarded’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/particle), विरोध/अन्वय ‘but’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier of वचः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम, विशेषण-प्रयोग

• वचः: word(s)/instruction
• वचः: Karma (Object of ‘disregarding’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भक्षयामासुः: they devoured
• भक्षयामासुः: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदी

• व्यग्राः: agitated/eager
• व्यग्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘त्रयाणां लोकानां समाहारः’

• सचराचरम्: with the moving and unmoving (beings)
• सचराचरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of त्रैलोक्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः: चर+अचर सहितम्

Speaker

Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disregarding righteous instruction (guru/īśvara-vākya) leads to destructive outcomes and collective suffering; agitation (āvega) drives adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-driven rajas/tamas overpowering discernment; necessity of sattva and obedience to dharma for world-sustenance.

Application: Heed wise counsel; recognize agitation as a warning sign; create systems to prevent ‘runaway’ harmful behavior in groups.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.1–3 (setup: Narasiṃha-stuti lineage; request; Śiva’s warning)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the importance of obeying divine instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that when Śaṅkara’s counsel is ignored, chaos escalates into cosmic harm—showing that disrespect to dharmic guidance leads to widespread suffering.

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

By portraying the devouring of the three worlds as a result of disregarding Śaṅkara, it reinforces the Purana’s theme that adharma (willful disregard of right counsel) produces destructive consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical counsel and corrective feedback seriously; resisting guidance in moments of agitation can magnify harm from personal life into wider social damage.