Shloka 18

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

तृतीयं स्कान्दमुद्दिष्टं कुमारेण तु भाषितम् / चतुर्थं शिवधर्माख्यं स्यान्नन्दीश्वरभाषितम्

Transliteration

tṛtīyaṃ skāndamuddiṣṭaṃ kumāreṇa tu bhāṣitam / caturthaṃ śivadharmākhyaṃ syānnandīśvarabhāṣitam

Translation

Le troisième est proclamé comme l’enseignement de Skanda (Kārttikeya), énoncé par Kumāra ; et le quatrième, nommé « Dharma de Śiva », est dit avoir été enseigné par Nandīśvara.

Word by Word

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• स्कान्दम्: (the) Skānda (Upapurāṇa)
• स्कान्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skānda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• उद्दिष्टम्: declared/indicated
• उद्दिष्टम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + √diś (धातु) + ta (क्त, कर्मणि कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘उद्दिष्ट’ = ‘indicated/declared’

• कुमारेण: by Kumāra
• कुमारेण: Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Masc., Instr., Sg.)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• भाषितम्: spoken
• भाषितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhāṣ (धातु) + ta (क्त, कर्मणि कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘भाषित’ = ‘spoken’

• चतुर्थम्: the fourth
• चतुर्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• शिवधर्माख्यम्: called ‘Śivadharma’
• शिवधर्माख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śivadharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (शिवधर्म-आख्य = ‘named Śivadharma’)

• स्यात्: would be/is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person, Sg.)

• नन्दीश्वरभाषितम्: spoken by Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरभाषितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣita (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्दीश्वरस्य भाषितम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Plurality within dharma-literature: multiple authoritative streams (Kumāra/Skanda; Śiva-dharma via Nandīśvara) are acknowledged.

Vedantic Theme: Smṛti plurality serving one dharma: different devatā-oriented texts can function as upabṛṃhaṇa (support) to Vedic intent.

Application: When encountering differing purāṇic emphases, read them as complementary lenses; track speaker/tradition to interpret intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.223.17-21 (same catalogue context)

Characters & Entities

• Skanda (Kumāra/Kārttikeya)
• Shiva
• Nandīśvara

FAQs

What is the importance of the Skanda and Śiva-dharma sections mentioned here?

This verse identifies authoritative speakers for two divisions—Kumāra for the Skanda teaching and Nandīśvara for Śiva-dharma—thereby marking these portions as specialized dharma instructions within the Garuda Purana’s arrangement.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by mapping which teachers transmit which dharma streams, it frames the text’s guidance as coming from recognized divine authorities—guidance that later supports right conduct, merit, and favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat dharma guidance as tradition-specific and source-grounded: study and practice ethical duties (śiva-dharma/discipline) with clarity about lineage and authority, rather than mixing teachings without understanding context.