Shloka 34

देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्

Devanagari script

इत्य् उक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र सह देवैः पितामहः समाहितमतिश् चैनं तुष्टाव गरुडध्वजम्

Transliteration

ity uktvā prayayau tatra saha devaiḥ pitāmahaḥ samāhitamatiś cainaṃ tuṣṭāva garuḍadhvajam

Translation

Having spoken thus, Pitāmaha (Brahmā) departed from that place together with the gods; and with his mind steadied in contemplation, he praised the Lord whose banner bears Garuḍa.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Quotation marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having said’

• प्रययौ: went forth
• प्रययौ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाहितमतिḥ: of composed mind
• समाहितमतिḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित + मति (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of पितामहः); समाहित = ‘collected, composed’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गरुडध्वजम्: the one whose banner is Garuḍa (Vishnu)
• गरुडध्वजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गरुडः ध्वजः यस्य’ इति (epithet)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True praise of the Lord arises from a mind steadied in contemplation, even when undertaken by cosmic authorities like Brahmā.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Before prayer or decision, cultivate inner steadiness (samāhita-mati) through brief meditation and focused intent.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion (stuti) as a valid means when grounded in right knowledge and collectedness—grace-oriented theism rather than self-powered attainment.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Devas
• Vishnu (Garuḍadhvaja)
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the significance of the epithet Garuḍadhvaja in the Vishnu Purana?

It identifies Vishnu as the Supreme Lord recognized by His distinctive emblem—Garuḍa—highlighting His sovereignty and the devotional focus of the Devas toward Him.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of Brahmā in relation to Vishnu here?

Brahmā is portrayed as departing with the gods after speaking, yet remaining inwardly composed and offering praise—indicating Vishnu’s higher status as the ultimate object of reverence even for the creator-god.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

The verse reinforces Vishnu’s supremacy: the gods, led by Brahmā, acknowledge Him through worship, aligning creation’s narrative with devotion to the Highest Reality.