Shloka 72

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

नाग्निजित्कव्यवाहोभूत्कन्या नीलाह्वयाभवत् / तस्याः स्वयंवरे चाहं गोवृषान्सप्तसंख्यकान्

Transliteration

nāgnijitkavyavāhobhūtkanyā nīlāhvayābhavat / tasyāḥ svayaṃvare cāhaṃ govṛṣānsaptasaṃkhyakān

Translation

De Nāgnijit naquit une fille nommée Nīlā. Lors de son svayaṃvara, moi aussi, je me présentai face à sept taureaux.

Word by Word

• nāgnijit: Nāgnijit (a person)
• nāgnijit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāgnijit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kavyavāhaḥ: Kavyavāha (Agni, carrier of offerings)
• kavyavāhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavyavāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: kavya + vāha (carrier of oblations)

• abhūt: became/was
• abhūt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Aorist/Perfective past (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kanyā: a daughter/maiden
• kanyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nīlāhvayā: by the name 'Nīlā'
• nīlāhvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + āhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); नाम-विशेषण: nīla-āhvaya = 'having the name Nīlā'

• abhavat: was/became
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• svayaṃvare: in the svayaṃvara (self-choice ceremony)
• svayaṃvare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayaṃvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• go-vṛṣān: bulls
• go-vṛṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go + vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: 'bulls (vṛṣa) that are cattle (go)'

• sapta-saṃkhyakān: seven in number
• sapta-saṃkhyakān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta + saṃkhyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्विगु-समास: 'numbered as seven' qualifying vṛṣān

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svayaṃvara-dharma: selection through demonstrated capability; controlled strength (bulls) as a sign of fitness for responsibility and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa and karma expressed in action; social rites as structured arenas for dharma to manifest.

Application: Let major life choices be guided by demonstrated character and competence; cultivate strength with restraint and ethical purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: royal court; ceremonial arena

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative sequence on Nīlā’s svayaṃvara (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Nāgnijit
• Kavyavāha
• Nīlā

FAQs

What is the importance of svayaṃvara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse references svayaṃvara as a recognized dharmic marriage custom, showing how royal alliances and virtue-based selection are framed within Purāṇic lineage narration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey or afterlife; instead, it contributes to the Purāṇic narrative by establishing lineage and life-events that support broader dharma teachings in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat marriage and family decisions as dharmic responsibilities—grounded in character, duty, and social ethics—rather than mere impulse or status.