Shloka 3

Harivaṁśa-saṅkṣepa: Kṛṣṇa’s Avatāra Deeds, Dynastic Continuity, and Post-departure Succession

Devanagari script

शकटः परिवृत्तो ऽथ भग्नौ च यमलार्जुनौ / दमितः कालियो नागो धेनुको विनिपातितः

Transliteration

śakaṭaḥ parivṛtto 'tha bhagnau ca yamalārjunau / damitaḥ kāliyo nāgo dhenuko vinipātitaḥ

Translation

Luego el carro fue volcado; los dos árboles Arjuna gemelos fueron quebrados; la serpiente Nāga Kāliya fue sometida; y Dhenuka fue abatido.

Word by Word

• शकटः: the cart (Śakaṭa-demon)
• शकटः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिवृत्तः: was overturned
• परिवृत्तः: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘overturned’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./particle: ‘then/and then’)

• भग्नौ: were broken
• भग्नौ: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘broken’

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

• यमलार्जुनौ: the twin Arjuna trees
• यमलार्जुनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमल + अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः—यमलौ अर्जुनौ (कर्मधारय: ‘twin arjuna trees’)

• दमितः: was subdued
• दमितः: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘subdued’

• कालियः: Kāliya
• कालियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नागः: serpent
• नागः: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-विशेष्य (apposition to कालियः)

• धेनुकः: Dhenuka
• धेनुकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विनिपातितः: was slain/knocked down
• विनिपातितः: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘struck down’

Speaker

Narrative voice within Garuḍa Purāṇa (contextual recounting; not a direct Yama/Vishnu-Garuḍa injunction in this line)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Līlā as pedagogy: the Lord repeatedly protects devotees and subdues chaos; remembrance of these acts stabilizes faith amid fear.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān’s aiśvarya within mādhurya-līlā; the world’s threats are subordinated to divine order.

Application: Use sacred recollection (smaraṇa) during anxiety; interpret repeated ‘rescues’ as invitations to trust and ethical steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral forest/river landscape (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.144 (catalog of Kṛṣṇa’s early feats)

Characters & Entities

• Śakaṭa
• Yamala-Arjuna
• Kāliya Nāga
• Dhenuka

FAQs

What is the importance of these deeds in Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse compresses well-known episodes showing the Lord’s protection of devotees and the removal of obstructive forces, reinforcing faith in dharma and divine guardianship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting the triumph of divine order over harmful forces, it supports the Purāṇic theme that living in devotion and righteousness aligns one with protective cosmic law.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat inner vices and harmful habits as ‘obstacles to be subdued’; cultivate discipline, devotion, and ethical conduct as the practical expression of dharma.