Shloka 2

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

विष्णुश्च तेषां देवानां ध्वजं ग्रैवेयकं ददौ / एतौ दृष्ट्वा विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति दानवानब्रवीद्धरिः

Transliteration

viṣṇuśca teṣāṃ devānāṃ dhvajaṃ graiveyakaṃ dadau / etau dṛṣṭvā vinaṅkṣyanti dānavānabravīddhariḥ

Translation

And Viṣṇu gave those gods a banner called Graiveyaka. Hari said, “On seeing these two, the Dānavas will be destroyed.”

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ध्वजम्: banner/standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ग्रैवेयकम्: called graiveyaka (neck-ornament-like)
• ग्रैवेयकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रैवेयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (neck-ornament-like; ‘graiveyaka’)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति: perish / will perish
• विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; भविष्यत्सन्निकर्षे वर्तमानप्रयोगः (will perish)

• दानवान्: the demons (Dānavas)
• दानवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine symbols bestowed by Viṣṇu protect devotees; remembrance/vision of Hari’s signs destroys hostile forces (outer and inner).

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) as decisive; nāma-rūpa of the Lord as protective upāya; victory as alignment with dharma.

Application: Keep a devotional emblem (dhvaja/tilaka/mālā/pavitra) as a reminder of refuge; use it to steady courage and ethical resolve when facing adversity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield; divine armory/assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (pavitra and protective insignia narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Devas
• Danavas
• Graiveyaka (banner)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Graiveyaka dhvaja in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, the Graiveyaka banner is presented as a divine standard bestowed by Viṣṇu, functioning as a sign of protection and assured victory for the Devas—its very presence is said to bring about the Dānavas’ destruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a narrative emphasizing divine intervention and the triumph of dharma-aligned forces (Devas) through Viṣṇu’s power.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred symbols and commitments to dharma as reminders to act with integrity; the verse highlights that strength aligned with righteous purpose, supported by devotion, overcomes destructive tendencies.