Shloka 43

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

काष्ठा सांबस्य भार्या सा लक्षणं संयुनक्त्यतः / लक्षणाभिधयाभूमौ दुष्ट वीर्योद्भवा ह्यपि

Transliteration

kāṣṭhā sāṃbasya bhāryā sā lakṣaṇaṃ saṃyunaktyataḥ / lakṣaṇābhidhayābhūmau duṣṭa vīryodbhavā hyapi

Translation

Kāṣṭhā, l’épouse de Sāmba, s’unit alors à Lakṣaṇā. En la contrée appelée Lakṣaṇābhidhā-bhūmi, un être naquit en vérité d’une semence corrompue.

Word by Word

• kāṣṭhā: Kāṣṭhā
• kāṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• sāṃbasya: of Sāmba
• sāṃbasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāṃba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• lakṣaṇam: a mark/sign (Lakṣaṇa)
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saṃyunakti: joins/unites
• saṃyunakti: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-yuj (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘joins’

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), causal/inferential ‘therefore/for this reason’

• lakṣaṇā-abhidhayā: by the name ‘Lakṣaṇā’
• lakṣaṇā-abhidhayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇā + abhidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘by the designation/name Lakṣaṇā’

• abhūmau: on earth
• abhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Vedic/epic locative form ‘on the earth’

• duṣṭa: wicked
• duṣṭa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; from duṣ- + √sthā/√duṣ? lexical adj.)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (as stem used in compound/elliptic); ‘wicked/evil’

• vīrya-udbhavā: born of (his) seed
• vīrya-udbhavā: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya + udbhavā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘born from seed/virility’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Additive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/concessive

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma or corrupted generative act (dūṣita-vīrya) yields harmful progeny and consequences.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-saṅga and doṣa (taint) shaping outcomes in saṃsāra; causality of moral-psychic impurity.

Application: Maintain ethical restraint and purity in relationships; recognize that intention and conduct shape downstream social and personal outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: region/locale

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.42 (Lakṣaṇā identification); Garuda Purana 3.28.44 (return to dvairūpya and shift to Manu/dharma theme)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Sāmba
• Kāṣṭhā
• Lakṣaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘duṣṭa-vīrya’ (corrupted seed) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse uses ‘duṣṭa-vīrya’ to highlight that unethical union and degraded intent can lead to harmful outcomes, presenting a moral-causal principle rather than mere biology.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences in the Garuda Purana?

By linking an improper union with the birth of a negative outcome, the verse frames actions—especially sexual/moral conduct—as karmically consequential and socially disruptive.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ethical boundaries and responsibility in relationships; the text emphasizes that choices made in desire can create long-term consequences for oneself and others.