Shloka 62

स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्

Devanagari script

गरुत्मान् अपि वक्त्रेण पक्षाभ्यां नखराङ्कुरैः भक्षयंस् ताडयन् देवान् दारयंश् च चचार वै

Transliteration

garutmān api vaktreṇa pakṣābhyāṃ nakharāṅkuraiḥ bhakṣayaṃs tāḍayan devān dārayaṃś ca cacāra vai

Translation

Then even Garutmān ranged about—using his beak, his wings, and the sharp tips of his talons—devouring the gods, striking them down, and tearing them apart.

Word by Word

• garutmān: Garuḍa
• garutmān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garutmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• vaktreṇa: with (his) beak/mouth
• vaktreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• pakṣābhyām: with (his) two wings
• pakṣābhyām: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• nakharāṅkuraiḥ: with claw-spikes
• nakharāṅkuraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha + aṅkura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: nakhānām aṅkurāḥ (sprouts/projections of claws)

• bhakṣayan: devouring
• bhakṣayan: Karta (Concurrent action/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु) → bhakṣayat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tāḍayan: striking
• tāḍayan: Karta (Concurrent action/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tāḍ (धातु) → tāḍayat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dārayan: tearing; rending
• dārayan: Karta (Concurrent action/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛ (धातु) → dārayat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• cacāra: moved about; roamed
• cacāra: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s divine campaign compels even Garuḍa to strike the opposing gods, establishing that all powers align under the Supreme in protecting dharma.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Reassertion of Vishnu’s lordship and the service (śeṣatva) of all beings, including his vāhana Garuḍa, in maintaining cosmic order.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True power is perfected in service: Garuḍa’s ferocity is an expression of loyal śeṣa-bhāva under Hari’s command.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Channel strength and talent into disciplined service of dharma rather than domination; cultivate steadfast loyalty to the good.

Vishishtadvaita: Śeṣa-śeṣi relation is dramatized: Garuḍa’s agency is real yet oriented as service to the Supreme Lord, aligning multiplicity within unity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Devas

FAQs

What is the significance of Garuḍa’s violent action against the devas in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes that even the devas are not absolute; they can be overpowered within the cosmic order, reinforcing a hierarchy where ultimate sovereignty belongs beyond the devas.

How does Sage Parāśara explain this event within the dialogue framework?

Parāśara narrates it as a vivid episode in the larger cosmological and mythic sequence, using striking imagery to show the shifting balances of power among celestial beings.

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

By implication, the devas’ vulnerability highlights that supreme regulation of the cosmos is not theirs; Vaishnava theology locates final authority in Vishnu as the sustaining principle behind order and outcomes.