Shloka 3

Marakata (Emerald): Mythic Origin, Anti-Poison Virtue, Qualities, Defects, and Proper Wearing

Devanagari script

ततः पक्षनिपातेन संहरन्निव रोदसी / गरुत्मान्पन्नगेन्द्रस्य प्रहर्तुमुपचक्रमे

Transliteration

tataḥ pakṣanipātena saṃharanniva rodasī / garutmānpannagendrasya prahartumupacakrame

Translation

Then, with the downward beat of his wings—seeming as though he were drawing the two worlds together—Garutmān (Garuḍa) began to strike at the lord of serpents.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana (Time/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-तसिल्)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (from there/then)

• पक्ष: wing
• पक्ष: Instrumental relation (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• निपातेन: by the downward stroke/flap (of wings)
• निपातेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (पक्षस्य निपातः)

• संहरन्: drawing together/contracting
• संहरन्: Kriya (Concurrent action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-हृ (धातु) → संहरत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग; ‘as if drawing together’

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• रोदसी: the two worlds (heaven and earth)
• रोदसी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक-द्विवचन)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्वार्थे द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक), द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन; द्यावापृथिव्यौ

• गरुत्मान्: Garuda
• गरुत्मान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुत्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• पन्नगेन्द्रस्य: of the king of serpents
• पन्नगेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पन्नगानाम् इन्द्रः)

• प्रहर्तुम्: to strike
• प्रहर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक

• उपचक्रमे: began/undertook
• उपचक्रमे: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; not direct speech by Viṣṇu or Garuḍa in this verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Overwhelming power must be directed toward restoring order; cosmic imagery suggests that adharma disturbs ‘both worlds’ and dharmic force re-stabilizes them.

Vedantic Theme: The play of guṇas in action: rajas (force) harnessed under sattvic purpose; apparent violence as part of cosmic maintenance (loka-saṅgraha).

Application: Use strength and influence responsibly—act firmly against harm while keeping the aim as protection and order, not personal rage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: aerial battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative sequences describing Garuḍa’s confrontation with nāgas; motifs of wing-beat storms and world-shaking movement in nearby verses

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Pannagendra (King of Serpents)

FAQs

What is the importance of Garuḍa’s wing-beat imagery in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It conveys Garuḍa’s overwhelming, world-shaking might—his movement is depicted as capable of ‘contracting’ the two worlds, emphasizing divine-scale power in the narrative.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a narrative passage highlighting Garuḍa’s strength and conflict with the serpent-king.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

The verse can be taken as a reminder that pride and hostility invite powerful consequences—cultivating restraint and dharma prevents conflict from escalating into destruction.