Shloka 23

पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः

Devanagari script

चक्रम् एतत् समुत्सृष्टं गदेयं ते विसर्जिता गरुत्मान् एष निर्दिष्टः समारोहतु ते ध्वजम्

Transliteration

cakram etat samutsṛṣṭaṃ gadeyaṃ te visarjitā garutmān eṣa nirdiṣṭaḥ samārohatu te dhvajam

Translation

“This discus has been set in motion; this mace has been dispatched for you. And Garuḍa, thus appointed, is here—let him mount your banner, as your emblem of sovereign victory.”

Word by Word

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying cakram)

• समुत्सृष्टम्: cast off/released
• समुत्सृष्टम्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उत्-√सृज् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (cakram)

• गदा: mace
• गदा: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying gadā)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विसर्जिता: dismissed/sent away
• विसर्जिता: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√सृज् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gadā)

• गरुत्मान्: Garuḍa
• गरुत्मान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुत्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying garutmān)

• निर्दिष्टः: appointed/indicated
• निर्दिष्टः: Karta (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-√दिश् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (garutmān)

• समारोहतु: let (him) mount
• समारोहतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; आज्ञार्थे (let him mount)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ध्वजम्: banner/standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to uphold divine sovereignty by deploying His characteristic weapons and Garuḍa against the pretender who usurps the Lord’s marks.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Restoration of the true ownership and power of cakra, gadā, and Garuḍa as the Lord’s authentic emblems

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s śastras and vāhana are not mere objects but living extensions of His will—His command itself becomes irresistible action.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat sacred symbols and practices (mantra, arcā, śaṅkha-cakra marks) with reverence, seeing them as conduits of the Lord’s presence rather than empty externals.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s auspicious attributes (kalyāṇa-guṇas) and divine instruments are real, purposeful, and grace-bearing within the world (not illusory).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Gada (Kaumodaki)
• Garuda
• Krishna
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Sudarśana Cakra in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse the Cakra is “released” as an active force, signifying Vishnu-Krishna’s supreme authority to enforce cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) and to remove adharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine protection in the battle narrative?

Parāśara frames protection as Vishnu’s own insignia becoming operative—weapon, power, and emblem are not merely objects but expressions of the Supreme’s will acting in history.

What is the theological importance of Garuḍa mounting the banner in this context?

Garuḍa on the dhvaja proclaims Vishnu’s sovereignty: the battle is placed under the Supreme Lord’s standard, presenting victory as dharma-aligned and divinely sanctioned.