Shloka 49

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

एकचक्रो महाबाहुस्तारकश्च महाबलः / स्वर्भानुर्वृषपर्वा च पुलोमा च महासुरः

Transliteration

ekacakro mahābāhustārakaśca mahābalaḥ / svarbhānurvṛṣaparvā ca pulomā ca mahāsuraḥ

Translation

Ekacakra, el de brazos poderosos; Tāraka, de gran fuerza; Svarbhānu, Vṛṣaparvā y Pulomā: éstos fueron grandes asuras.

Word by Word

• एकचक्रः: Ekacakra (one-wheeled; a name)
• एकचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एकं चक्रं यस्य = one-wheeled/one-disc; a name)

• महाबाहुः: Mahābāhu (mighty-armed; a name)
• महाबाहुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mighty-armed; epithet/name)

• तारकः: Tāraka (a name)
• तारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• महाबलः: Mahābala (very strong; a name)
• महाबलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great-strong; a name/epithet)

• स्वर्भानुः: Svarbhānu (a name)
• स्वर्भानुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृषपर्वा: Vṛṣaparvā (a name)
• वृषपर्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य पर्वा/पर्वाणि यस्य = bull-jointed; a name)

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

• पुलोमा: Pulomā (a name)
• पुलोमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलोमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• महासुरः: Mahāsura (great asura; a name/epithet)
• महासुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great demon; epithet/name)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power (bala) without dharma becomes a cause of bondage and cosmic disturbance; fame can attach to adharma as well as dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-driven agency (kartṛtva under rajas/tamas) versus alignment with ṛta/dharma.

Application: Channel strength toward protection and restraint; examine ambition so it does not become predatory.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6 (asura genealogy; transition to notable figures)

Characters & Entities

• Ekacakra
• Tāraka
• Svarbhānu
• Vṛṣaparvā
• Pulomā
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of listing asuras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog of major asuras, preserving Purāṇic memory and framing the cosmic opposition that dharma must overcome in the narrative world of the Purāṇas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not directly describe the soul’s journey; it is a mythic enumeration of powerful asuras, likely serving broader context rather than afterlife instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that strength without dharma becomes destructive; cultivate self-restraint, truthfulness, and ethical power rather than pride-driven force.