Shloka 34

Devanagari script

अविज्ञातगतिश्चैव द्वौ पुत्रावनिलस्य तु / अग्निपुत्रः कुमारस्तु शरस्तम्बे व्यजायत्

Transliteration

avijñātagatiścaiva dvau putrāvanilasya tu / agniputraḥ kumārastu śarastambe vyajāyat

Translation

And Anila (the Wind-god) had two sons whose later course was unknown. But Kumāra, the son of Agni, was born in a clump of reeds.

Word by Word

• अविज्ञातगतिः: Avijñātagati (name)
• अविज्ञातगतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविज्ञात + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative Singular; समासः (कर्मधारय): अविज्ञाता गतिः यस्याः — ‘one whose course is unknown’ (proper name)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (Avadhāraṇa/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन — Nominative Dual; संख्याविशेषण

• पुत्रौ: sons (two)
• पुत्रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन — Nominative Dual

• अनिलस्य: of Anila
• अनिलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive Singular

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Discourse marker (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — विरोध/विशेष (particle)

• अग्निपुत्रः: Agni’s son
• अग्निपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative Singular; समासः (तत्पुरुष): अग्नेः पुत्रः — ‘son of Agni’

• कुमारः: Kumāra
• कुमारः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative Singular (proper name/title)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse marker (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निपात (particle)

• शरस्तम्बे: in a clump of reeds
• शरस्तम्बे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + स्तम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative Singular; समासः (तत्पुरुष): शराणां स्तम्बः — ‘clump of reeds’

• व्यजायत्: was born
• व्यजायत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: वि — was born/was produced

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gati (destiny) can be unknowable; divine manifestations arise through unexpected loci—nature itself becomes a sacred matrix.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā and the limits of human knowledge (avidyā regarding outcomes); the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Application: Hold plans lightly; cultivate humility about outcomes; recognize sacredness in natural places and protect them.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: natural sacred spot (reed thicket)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6.35 (continuation: Kumāra’s names/associations)

Characters & Entities

• Anila (Vayu)
• Agni
• Kumara (Skanda/Kartikeya)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kumāra’s birth in a reed clump (śarastamba) in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights a distinctive Puranic origin motif for Kumāra (Skanda/Kārttikeya), identifying him as Agni’s son and linking his manifestation to the natural symbol of reeds (śara), often associated with his early emergence and recognition among the Devas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife themes central to the Garuda Purana?

This particular verse is genealogical rather than funerary; it situates divine lineages and mythic identities within the broader Purana, which elsewhere uses such cosmological framing to support teachings on dharma, karma, and post-death order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that tradition preserves multiple layers—cosmology, lineage, and ethics—encouraging respectful study (svādhyāya) and discernment when applying scriptural teachings to daily dharmic living.