Shloka 18

Daitya–Dānava Vaṁśa, Kaśyapa’s Progeny, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

विनतायास् तु द्वौ पुत्रौ विख्यातौ गरुडारुणौ सुपर्णः पततां श्रेष्ठो दारुणः पन्नगाशनः

Transliteration

vinatāyās tu dvau putrau vikhyātau garuḍāruṇau suparṇaḥ patatāṃ śreṣṭho dāruṇaḥ pannagāśanaḥ

Translation

Vinatā bore two renowned sons—Garuḍa and Aruṇa. Garuḍa, the Suparṇa, is foremost among all that fly, fierce in might and famed as the devourer of serpents.

Word by Word

• विनतायाः: of Vinatā
• विनतायाः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• पुत्रौ: sons
• पुत्रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• विख्यातौ: well-known
• विख्यातौ: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + √khyā (ख्या धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-

• गरुडारुणौ: Garuḍa and Aruṇa
• गरुडारुणौ: Apposition to subject (सम्बोधन/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa + aruṇa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गरुडश्च अरुणश्च)

• सुपर्णः: Suparṇa (Garuḍa)
• सुपर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + parṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं पर्णं यस्य/सु-पर्णः)

• पतताम्: of the flying ones (birds)
• पतताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle) ‘पतत्’ का षष्ठी-बहुवचन (6th/Genitive plural)

• श्रेष्ठः: best
• श्रेष्ठः: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दारुणः: Dāruṇa (Aruṇa) / fierce
• दारुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पन्नगाशनः: eater of serpents
• पन्नगाशनः: Predicate/apposition (विधेय/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pannaga + āśana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पन्नगानाम् आशनः = eater of serpents)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Origins/classifications of beings (progeny of Dakṣa’s daughters, esp. Vinatā).

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic roles are embodied in specific beings—Garuḍa’s nature and function are ordained within creation’s hierarchy.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Recognize svadharma (one’s proper function) and channel strength toward protection rather than domination.

Vishishtadvaita: Hierarchy of beings is meaningful within Viṣṇu’s ordered universe; Garuḍa exemplifies empowered service (śeṣatva) to the Lord.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Protective strength (upholding cosmic order by subduing nāgas).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vinatā
• Garuḍa
• Aruṇa
• Nāgas (serpents)

FAQs

What is the significance of Garuḍa being called 'foremost among those that fly' in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse establishes Garuḍa’s supremacy within the hierarchy of beings, marking him as a cosmic exemplar of power and rank in creation-era genealogies.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vinatā’s lineage in this chapter?

Parāśara lists progeny in a genealogical sequence, identifying Vinatā’s two famed sons—Garuḍa and Aruṇa—to situate major beings within the ordered structure of creation.

What is the theological importance of Garuḍa as 'pannagāśana' (serpent-devourer) in this context?

The epithet highlights a divinely sanctioned power that subdues disruptive forces (symbolized by serpents), aligning with Vaishnava themes of maintaining universal order under the Supreme Reality embodied by Vishnu.