Shloka 14

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

असृजन्मनसा दक्षः प्रजाः पूर्वं चतुर्वोधाः / नावर्धन्त च तास्तस्य अपध्याता हरेण तु

Transliteration

asṛjanmanasā dakṣaḥ prajāḥ pūrvaṃ caturvodhāḥ / nāvardhanta ca tāstasya apadhyātā hareṇa tu

Translation

In the beginning, Dakṣa created progeny by his mind—beings of fourfold understanding. Yet they did not multiply, for Hari (Viṣṇu) counteracted them and rendered them ineffective.

Word by Word

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रजाः: creatures, progeny
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly / at first
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• चतुर्वोधाः: the four (types of) beings/knowers
• चतुर्वोधाः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/द्विगुसदृशः (चत्वारः बोधाः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अवर्धन्त: grew / increased
• अवर्धन्त: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताः: they (those)
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपध्याता: being ill-wished/meditated against (cursed)
• अपध्याता: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थकः

• हरेण: by Hari
• हरेण: Karana/Karta (Agent in passive/करण-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even Prajāpati’s creative power is subordinate to Hari; divine will can enable or obstruct worldly proliferation.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sarvaniyantṛtva (God as controller) and the limits of individual agency; māyā/niyati shaping outcomes.

Application: Hold plans lightly; combine effort with surrender; interpret obstacles as prompts to align with dharma and devotion rather than mere force.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmogonic sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring supremacy of Hari/Vishnu over cosmic functions

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of Daksha’s mind-born creation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights manasa-sṛṣṭi (creation by intention/mind) and shows that even a Prajāpati’s creative act proceeds under the higher governance of Hari’s will.

How does this verse explain divine control over creation?

It states that Daksha’s first progeny did not increase because Hari counteracted it—implying cosmic balance and timing are regulated by Vishnu beyond individual creators.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages humility: outcomes are not solely determined by effort or capability; aligning one’s intentions with dharma and the larger order is essential.