Shloka 15

Śālagrāma–Sudarśana-Vyūha Nirūpaṇa, Tīrtha-Saṅgraha, Samvatsara-Nāma, and Mantra-Rakṣā

Devanagari script

कालं वक्ष्यामि संसिद्ध्यै रुद्र पञ्चस्वरोदयात् / राजा सा(मा) जा उदासा च पीडा मृत्युस्तथैव च

Transliteration

kālaṃ vakṣyāmi saṃsiddhyai rudra pañcasvarodayāt / rājā sā(mā) jā udāsā ca pīḍā mṛtyustathaiva ca

Translation

सिद्धि के हेतु मैं रुद्र के पाँच स्वरों के उदय के अनुसार काल का वर्णन करूँगा। वे हैं—राजा, सा(मा), जा, उदासा, तथा पीड़ा और मृत्यु।

Word by Word

• कालम्: time / Kāla
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वक्ष्यामि: I will explain/speak
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संसिद्ध्यै: for accomplishment/perfection
• संसिद्ध्यै: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• पञ्चस्वरोदयात्: from the arising of the five vowels
• पञ्चस्वरोदयात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + स्वर + उदय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पञ्चानां स्वराणाम् उदयः)

• राजा: Rājā (name)
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• सा: Sā (name)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (पाठभेद: सा/सामा)

• जा: Jā (name)
• जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• उदासा: Udāsā (name)
• उदासा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• पीडा: Pīḍā (name)
• पीडा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• मृत्युः: Mṛtyu (name)
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Siddhi in action depends on aligning with correctly diagnosed kāla, here derived from a Rudra-associated phonemic (svara) system.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda (sound) as a subtle ordering power within the manifest world; disciplined use of śāstra to harmonize action with cosmic rhythm.

Application: Before initiating a rite or undertaking, apply the taught phoneme/time classification (rājā, sā/mā, jā, udāsā, pīḍā, mṛtyu) to choose or avoid specific times.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.66.16 (diagrammatic writing of vowels); Garuda Purana 1.66.17 (tithi/koṣṭha mapping and planetary sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of choosing the right time (kāla) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames correct timing as essential for saṃsiddhi (successful completion), indicating that ritual outcomes are linked to specific time-qualities identified through a traditional phonetic/omen system.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue?

Vishnu continues instructing Garuda by introducing a practical method for assessing time-conditions, listing named categories that signal favorable, neutral, or harmful outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to act with deliberation—choose calm, clear conditions for important duties and avoid impulsive action when circumstances indicate distress (pīḍā) or serious risk (mṛtyu).