Shloka 3

Devanagari script

धर्मो जयति नाधर्मः सत्यं जयाते नानृतम् / क्षमा जयति न क्रोधो विष्णुर्जयति नासुरः

Transliteration

dharmo jayati nādharmaḥ satyaṃ jayāte nānṛtam / kṣamā jayati na krodho viṣṇurjayati nāsuraḥ

Translation

Dharma triumphs, not adharma. Truth triumphs, not falsehood. Forgiveness triumphs, not anger. Viṣṇu triumphs, not the forces of asuric nature.

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जयति: wins/conquers
• जयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अधर्मः: unrighteousness
• अधर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जयते: wins/prevails
• जयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; पाठे "जयाते" इति रूपं सम्भवतः लेखदोषः (intended: जयते)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अनृतम्: falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जयति: wins
• जयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• क्रोधः: anger
• क्रोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जयति: wins
• जयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• असुरः: demon/asura
• असुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma, satya, and kṣamā are intrinsically victorious; Vishnu (as dharma’s ground) overcomes asuric tendencies.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the upholder of ṛta/dharma; sattva’s ascendancy over rajas-tamas; alignment with cosmic order leads to stability.

Application: Choose truthfulness, forgiveness, and dharmic conduct in conflict; treat anger and deceit as self-defeating; cultivate Vishnu-smaraṇa as moral anchor.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda): recurring contrasts of dharma/adharma and satya/anṛta; praise of kṣamā; Vishnu as protector of dharma

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma and truth in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that dharma and truth inevitably prevail, implying that righteous conduct is the safest foundation for one’s fate after death and the outcomes described in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Garuda Purana?

The Preta Kanda repeatedly links post-death experiences to one’s conduct; by emphasizing dharma, truth, and restraint, the verse frames the ethical causes that shape what the departed encounters in Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose truth over deception, respond with forgiveness instead of anger, and align daily actions with dharma—these are presented as winning forces that protect one’s spiritual trajectory.