Shloka 120

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

फणोन्नता प्रबुद्धा स्यात्सप्तलक्षफणान्विता / तत्रापि दुर्लभा सुप्ता महाभाग्यकरीस्मृता

Transliteration

phaṇonnatā prabuddhā syātsaptalakṣaphaṇānvitā / tatrāpi durlabhā suptā mahābhāgyakarīsmṛtā

Translation

Lorsqu’elle est pleinement éveillée, on dit qu’elle se dresse, capuchons relevés, pourvue de sept lakhs de capuchons; et pourtant, même là, l’état « endormi » est rare et demeure mémorisé comme dispensateur d’une grande fortune.

Word by Word

• फणोन्नता: raised with hoods (raised-hooded)
• फणोन्नता: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फण-उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (फणैः उन्नता/फण-उन्नता)

• प्रबुद्धा: awakened
• प्रबुद्धा: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-बुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; बुध्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; subject-complement

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3sg

• सप्तलक्षफणान्विता: possessing seven lakhs of hoods
• सप्तलक्षफणान्विता: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त-लक्ष-फण-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सप्तलक्षाणि फणाः यस्याः सा) संख्यापूर्वपद-समास; agrees with (शेषमूर्तिः) implied

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवाद/अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: also/even)

• दुर्लभा: rare/difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभा: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुष्टं/दुर् + लभ)

• सुप्ता: sleeping (form)
• सुप्ता: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्वप्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; refers to the 'sleeping' form

• महाभाग्यकरी: bringing great fortune
• महाभाग्यकरी: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-भाग्य-करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (महद् भाग्यं करोति या)

• स्मृता: is said/considered
• स्मृता: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Awakened śeṣa-mūrti manifests immense, multi-hooded potency; yet the rare ‘sleeping’ condition is deemed highly auspicious.

Vedantic Theme: Power (śakti) must be integrated with stillness; auspiciousness lies in mastery—latent containment rather than mere display.

Application: Balance spiritual intensity with steadiness: cultivate deep rest (nididhyāsana-like absorption), avoid performative ‘power’; prioritize inner integration and humility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: inner yogic-cosmic visualization

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.119 (two states); Garuda Purana 3.26.121 (mokṣa-giving progression)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'sleeping' (suptā) state mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse treats the 'sleeping' condition as exceptionally rare and therefore especially auspicious—its occurrence is remembered as bringing great fortune.

How does this verse fit the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue style of the Garuda Purana?

It reads like Vishnu’s descriptive instruction to Garuda, classifying states/conditions and highlighting which are rare and yield significant results (here, great good fortune).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages discernment: not all striking manifestations are equal—rare, calm/dormant conditions can be valued as highly auspicious, promoting patience and reverence rather than impulsive reaction.