Shloka 137

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

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

संताड्यमाने संतभसूत्रस्थदेवी पलायिता कुत्र मे संवदस्व / विवाहकाले पूजयित्वा च सम्यक् चण्डालदेवीं भक्तवश्यां च तस्याः

Transliteration

saṃtāḍyamāne saṃtabhasūtrasthadevī palāyitā kutra me saṃvadasva / vivāhakāle pūjayitvā ca samyak caṇḍāladevīṃ bhaktavaśyāṃ ca tasyāḥ

Translation

જ્યારે મને માર પડતો હતો ત્યારે સ્તંભ-સૂત્રમાં વસતી દેવી ભાગી ગઈ—કહો તો, તે ક્યાં ગઈ? અને વિવાહકાળે ચંડાલ-દેવીની વિધિપૂર્વક પૂજા કરવી જોઈએ; ભક્તિથી તે વશ થાય છે।

Word by Word

• संताड्यमाने: while being beaten
• संताड्यमाने: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-ताड् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘while (someone) is being beaten’

• स्तम्भ-सूत्र-स्थ-देवी: the goddess residing in the pillar-thread
• स्तम्भ-सूत्र-स्थ-देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (stambhasūtre sthā devī = ‘the goddess situated in the pillar-thread’)

• पलायिता: fled
• पलायिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having fled’

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (place)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन (enclitic genitive)

• संवदस्व: tell/speak (to me)
• संवदस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विवाह-काले: at the time of marriage
• विवाह-काले: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having worshipped’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• चण्डाल-देवीम्: Caṇḍāla-devī
• चण्डाल-देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (caṇḍālī devī / caṇḍāla-sambandhinī devī)

• भक्त-वश्याम्: obedient to the devotee
• भक्त-वश्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhaktasya vaśyā = ‘submissive to the devotee’) विशेषण (qualifying ‘devīm’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Critique of misplaced reliance on minor/impure cults and coercive ritual; devotion can make even fearsome deities 'compliant,' implying the danger of bhakti misapplied.

Vedantic Theme: Object of devotion determines fruit; devotion without discernment (viveka) binds rather than liberates.

Application: Exercise discernment in religious practice; avoid harmful or exploitative rites; align devotion with sattva and dharmic aims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic-ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: warnings against heterodox/impure worship leading to Yama’s punishments (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Caṇḍāla-devī
• sacred thread (yajñopavīta)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Caṇḍāla-devī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents her worship as a ritual safeguard during marriage ceremonies, implying that devotion can pacify and align even fierce or liminal powers with the devotee’s welfare.

How does this verse relate to protection and ritual purity?

By contrasting the ‘goddess in the sacred thread’ fleeing during violence with the instruction to worship Caṇḍāla-devī at marriage, the verse frames purity symbols and protective rites as context-dependent supports within samskāras.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach life-cycle rituals with sincerity, proper procedure, and devotional steadiness—using prayer and ethical conduct to reduce fear, conflict, and disorder around important transitions.