Shloka 26

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

तथा रामस्य सुभगा सीता त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता / पत्नी दाशरथेर्देवी विजिग्ये राक्षसेश्वरम्

Transliteration

tathā rāmasya subhagā sītā trailokyaviśrutā / patnī dāśaratherdevī vijigye rākṣaseśvaram

Translation

Likewise, Sītā—the blessed one, renowned in the three worlds—consort of Rāma, Daśaratha’s son, conquered the lord of the Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: ‘thus/so’)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• सुभगा: fortunate; auspicious
• सुभगा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-bhagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of ‘sītā’)

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता: renowned in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trailokya + viśruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुता’ = renowned in the three worlds); विशेषण (of ‘sītā’)

• पत्नी: wife
• पत्नी: Karta (Appositional subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (appositional to ‘sītā’)

• दाशरथेः: of the son of Daśaratha (Rama)
• दाशरथेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāśarathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• देवी: goddess; noble lady
• देवी: Karta (Appositional subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (appositional to ‘sītā/patnī’)

• विजिग्ये: conquered; defeated
• विजिग्ये: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (जि)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राक्षसेश्वरम्: the lord of the rakshasas
• राक्षसेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘राक्षसानाम् ईश्वरः’ = lord of the rakṣasas)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa; contextual attribution within Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma-śakti: purity, fidelity, and inner power can ‘conquer’ adharma; victory is not only martial but moral-spiritual.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti as the manifest power of dharma; sattva’s supremacy over tamas/rajas when aligned with the Lord’s purpose.

Application: Cultivate steadfastness, chastity/ethical integrity, and courage; honor the feminine principle as a force for dharmic victory.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city/fortress (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): narratives praising dharma and exemplars of virtue; adjacent tīrtha/vrata passages in the same adhyāya context (implied)

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Daśaratha
• Rākṣaseśvara (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of Sītā’s example in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse invokes Sītā as a renowned ideal of auspiciousness and dharma, presenting her life as a moral exemplar—showing that steadfast virtue and righteous alignment ultimately overcome destructive forces.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇa’s broader ethic: the soul’s welfare is shaped by dharma. By citing Itihāsa models like Rāma and Sītā, the text reinforces that righteous conduct is foundational to favorable spiritual outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to uphold integrity, fidelity to dharma, and courage in adversity—treating ethical consistency as a daily discipline rather than a situational choice.