Shloka 21

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

वक्ष्येहं मित्रविन्दायाः पाणिग्रहणकारणम् / सावधानमना भूत्वा शृणु पक्षीन्द्र सत्तम

Transliteration

vakṣyehaṃ mitravindāyāḥ pāṇigrahaṇakāraṇam / sāvadhānamanā bhūtvā śṛṇu pakṣīndra sattama

Translation

I shall now tell you the reason for Mitravindā’s marriage—the taking of her hand. With a focused and attentive mind, listen, O best of kings among birds.

Word by Word

• वक्ष्ये: I will tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मित्रविन्दायाः: of Mitravindā
• मित्रविन्दायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्रविन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पाणि-ग्रहण-कारणम्: the reason for (her) marriage
• पाणि-ग्रहण-कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (cause of hand-taking/marriage)

• स-अवधान-मना: O attentive-minded one
• स-अवधान-मना: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + अवधान (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one whose mind is attentive)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पक्षि-इन्द्र: O lord of birds
• पक्षि-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (lord of birds)

• सत्तम: O best
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa with focused attention is prerequisite for grasping dharmic and devotional narratives.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa (listening) as a limb of knowledge and bhakti; attention (ekāgratā) as inner discipline.

Application: When receiving teachings, remove distractions, listen with one-pointed mind, and reflect afterward for assimilation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dialogic frame: repeated 'śṛṇu' injunctions to Garuḍa to mark doctrinal/narrative transitions (structural parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Mitravinda
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of pāṇigrahaṇa (marriage rite) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames marriage as a dharmic, explainable rite with specific causes and context, indicating that social-sacramental acts are to be understood through scripture rather than treated as mere custom.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead it marks a narrative transition where Vishnu instructs Garuḍa, reinforcing the Purana’s teaching method: attentive listening to receive dharma and right understanding.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred texts and life-rituals with sāvadhāna (focused attention), seeking reasons and ethical grounding behind practices rather than performing them mechanically.