Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

शङ्खः श्वेतो महापद्मः (शङ्खः) कम्बलाश्वतरौ तथा / एलापत्रस्तथा नागः कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ

Transliteration

śaṅkhaḥ śveto mahāpadmaḥ (śaṅkhaḥ) kambalāśvatarau tathā / elāpatrastathā nāgaḥ karkoṭakadhanañjayau

Translation

Śaṅkha, Śveta, Mahāpadma, Kambala, and Aśvatara; likewise Elāpatra, Nāga, Karkoṭaka, and Dhanañjaya—these are the nāga (serpent) beings named here.

Word by Word

• शङ्खः: Śaṅkha (name of a serpent)
• शङ्खः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्वेतः: Śveta
• श्वेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महापद्मः: Mahāpadma
• महापद्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् पद्मः)

• शङ्खः: Śaṅkha (repeated)
• शङ्खः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/पुनरुक्ति)

• कम्बलाश्वतरौ: Kambala and Aśvatara
• कम्बलाश्वतरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कम्बलश्च अश्वतरश्च)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• एलापत्रः: Elāpatra
• एलापत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एला (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (एलायाः पत्रम्/पत्रः)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• नागः: Nāga
• नागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ: Karkoṭaka and Dhanañjaya
• कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्कोटक (प्रातिपदिक) + धनञ्जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कर्कोटकश्च धनञ्जयश्च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Naming as a Purāṇic method of preserving cosmological memory; plurality within a single nāga category.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma as a handle within vyavahāra; the One appearing as many through designation.

Application: Use disciplined memorization and accurate naming in study; respect cultural memory encoded in lists and lineages.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6 (continuation of nāga catalog)

Characters & Entities

• Nāgas

FAQs

What is the importance of Nāgas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional list of prominent nāgas, reflecting Purāṇic cosmology and the cataloging of beings connected with subterranean realms and sacred geography.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it forms part of contextual cosmological description by naming classes of beings encountered in Purāṇic world-structure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reference for accurate recitation, study, and archival indexing of Garuda Purana cosmological sections, keeping traditional names and spellings intact.