Shloka 33

Devanagari script

वह्नौ बधश्चायुर्वृद्धिंपुत्त्रलाभसुतृप्तिदः / धनदे नृपपीडादमर्थघ्नं रोगदं जले

Transliteration

vahnau badhaścāyurvṛddhiṃputtralābhasutṛptidaḥ / dhanade nṛpapīḍādamarthaghnaṃ rogadaṃ jale

Translation

In fire it brings injury and destruction; yet it can also bestow increase of lifespan, the gaining of sons, and contentment. In matters of wealth it brings harassment by kings, it destroys prosperity, and in water it gives rise to disease.

Word by Word

• वह्नौ: in/at fire (Agni)
• वह्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (स्थान)

• बधः: killing/slaughter
• बधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• वृद्धिम्: increase/growth
• वृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• पुत्रलाभसुतृप्तिदः: giver of gain of sons and good satisfaction
• पुत्रलाभसुतृप्तिदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक) + सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—बहु-तत्पुरुष (पुत्रलाभं च सुतृप्तिं च ददाति इति)

• धनदे: in/at Kubera (the wealth-giver)
• धनदे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (स्थान)

• नृपपीडादम्: causing affliction from the king
• नृपपीडादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नृपपीडां ददाति इति)

• अर्थघ्नम्: destroying wealth/meaning
• अर्थघ्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अर्थं हन्ति इति)

• रोगदम्: giving disease
• रोगदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (रोगं ददाति इति)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (स्थान)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala is context-dependent: the same association can yield injury or benefit depending on element/sector; worldly prosperity is vulnerable to authority and imbalance.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāric results are mixed and unstable; prudence and dharmic alignment reduce suffering.

Application: Avoid risky placements/associations with fire and water; manage wealth with awareness of political/administrative pressures; interpret ‘mixed signs’ as a call for balanced conduct and safeguards.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: elemental/sectoral omen context (dik/dravya-phala style)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46 (enumeration of gates/quarters and their fruits; mixed auspicious/inauspicious results)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Nṛpa (king/ruler)

FAQs

What is the importance of elemental signs (fire and water) in Garuda Purana?

This verse links fire and water with specific outcomes—harm, longevity, progeny, satisfaction, disease—showing how the Purana reads worldly signs as indicators of karmic results.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping actions and circumstances to results (health, wealth, suffering), it reinforces the karmic logic that later extends to post-death consequences described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat health, wealth, and social pressures as ethically consequential: act carefully around sources of danger (fire/water), avoid wrongdoing that invites state trouble, and cultivate conduct that supports well-being and contentment.