Shloka 1

Devanagari script

नाम द्विपञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / एवं ब्रह्माब्रवीच्छ्रुत्वा हरेरष्टनिधींस्तथा / तत्र पद्ममहापद्मौ तथा मकरकच्छपौ

Transliteration

nāma dvipañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / evaṃ brahmābravīcchrutvā hareraṣṭanidhīṃstathā / tatra padmamahāpadmau tathā makarakacchapau

Translation

Chapter Fifty-Three (so named). Sūta said: Thus, having heard of Hari’s eight treasures, Brahmā spoke; among them are Padma and Mahāpadma, and also Makara and Kacchapa.

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Labeling/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशार्थक/उपपद (indeclinable: ‘named/as to name’)

• द्विपञ्चाशत्तमः: fifty-second
• द्विपञ्चाशत्तमः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi + pañcāśat + tama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal adjective: 52nd)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एवं: thus
• एवं: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: spoke; said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); ‘having heard’

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• अष्टनिधीन्: the eight treasures
• अष्टनिधीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (‘अष्टौ निधयः’ = eight treasures)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (indeclinable: also/likewise)

• तत्र: there; in that (list)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: there/in that context)

• पद्ममहापद्मौ: Padma and Mahāpadma
• पद्ममहापद्मौ: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma + mahāpadma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (padma and mahāpadma)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (also)

• मकरकच्छपौ: Makara and Kacchapa
• मकरकच्छपौ: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara + kacchapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (makara and kacchapa)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge of nidhi (treasure-principles) as part of understanding divine governance of prosperity; wealth is structured, named, and subordinated to Hari.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the ultimate possessor (sarva-svāmī); worldly abundance is a manifestation within māyā under divine order.

Application: Relate prosperity to stewardship: treat wealth as entrusted by the divine; cultivate discernment about attachment and purpose of resources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.53 (nidhi-nirūpaṇa) continuing verses listing eight nidhis

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Brahmā
• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Aṣṭa-nidhi (eight treasures)
• Padma
• Mahāpadma
• Makara
• Kacchapa

FAQs

What is the importance of Aṣṭa-nidhi (eight treasures) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a chapter context where Brahmā, after hearing of Hari’s eight treasures, enumerates them—indicating a doctrinal listing of sacred “treasures” associated with Viṣṇu’s abundance and cosmic order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s journey or afterlife mechanics; it functions as a chapter-opening narration shifting into a discourse by Brahmā about Hari’s eight treasures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study teachings in proper sequence: the verse frames a structured transmission—hearing (śravaṇa) followed by authoritative explanation—useful for disciplined spiritual learning.