Shloka 3

Devanagari script

पशुवत्स विशस्तस्तैः स्ववाक्याशनियन्त्रितः / बलो लोकोपराय देवानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

paśuvatsa viśastastaiḥ svavākyāśaniyantritaḥ / balo lokoparāya devānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

Restrained by their own words and commands, they slaughtered him like an animal—Bala—for the welfare of the gods and for the good of the world.

Word by Word

• पशुवत्स: like a beast
• पशुवत्स: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; उपमानार्थ-विशेषण (‘like an animal/calf’)

• विशस्तः: was sacrificed
• विशस्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस्/शस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been sacrificed/slain’

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘by them’

• स्ववाक्याशनि-यन्त्रितः: restrained by the thunderbolt of their words
• स्ववाक्याशनि-यन्त्रितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + वाक्य + अशनि + यन्त्रित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘controlled/checked by the thunderbolt of (their) own words’

• बलः: Bali
• बलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• लोक-उपराय: for the welfare of the world
• लोक-उपराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + उपराय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative: ‘for the benefit of the world’)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• हितकाम्यया: with the wish for (their) welfare
• हितकाम्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; हेतौ/करणे (‘with the desire for (their) good’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Speech/pledge (vāk) can bind and become a weapon; collective ‘welfare’ claims can mask adharma, yet karmic consequences unfold.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā of moral narratives: actions are judged by inner purity and truth, not merely by proclaimed ends.

Application: Be cautious with vows and contracts; resist participating in harm justified by slogans of ‘greater good’—apply viveka (discernment).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.2 (setup: boon-pretext and slaying); Garuda Purana 1.68.4 (result: purified being yields jewel-seed limbs)

Characters & Entities

• Bala
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘self-binding by one’s own words’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that one’s own spoken commitments and commands can become binding forces; misuse of speech or vows can lead to downfall, reinforcing dharma through accountability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or karmic consequence?

By depicting Bala’s fate as arising under the constraint of his own words, it illustrates karmic causality: intention and speech generate consequences that shape one’s destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Speak carefully, avoid rash vows and harmful assertions, and align words with dharma—because speech can create obligations and outcomes that return to the speaker.