Shloka 3

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

आसीत्पुरा हिरण्याक्षः काश्यपो दितिनन्दनः / सनकादेश्च वाग्दण्डाद्द्वितीयद्वारपालकः

Transliteration

āsītpurā hiraṇyākṣaḥ kāśyapo ditinandanaḥ / sanakādeśca vāgdaṇḍāddvitīyadvārapālakaḥ

Translation

Pada masa lampau ada Hiraṇyākṣa—putra Kaśyapa, kesayangan Diti. Karena hukuman berupa kutuk lisan para resi seperti Sanaka, ia menjadi penjaga gerbang yang kedua.

Word by Word

• āsīt: there was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/once)

• hiraṇyākṣaḥ: Hiraṇyākṣa
• hiraṇyākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇyākṣa (प्रातिपदिक; हिरण्य+अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• kāśyapaḥ: (of the line of) Kaśyapa
• kāśyapaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/अपादान-न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśyapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/गोत्रनाम (apposition)

• diti-nandanaḥ: son of Diti
• diti-nandanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diti-nandana (प्रातिपदिक; दिति+नन्दन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-सम्बन्ध (son of Diti)

• sanakādeḥ: of Sanaka and others
• sanakādeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanakādi (प्रातिपदिक; सनक+आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Sanaka and others)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• vāk-daṇḍāt: from the verbal curse
• vāk-daṇḍāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāk-daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक; वाक्+दण्ड)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (from the curse of speech)

• dvitīyaḥ: second
• dvitīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (second)

• dvārapālakaḥ: door-keeper
• dvārapālakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvārapālaka (प्रातिपदिक; द्वार+पालक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even exalted beings are bound by the consequences of speech-acts (śāpa) and cosmic law; destiny unfolds through moral-causal order.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā operating through dharma and the potency of satya-vāk; the universe as a moral-causal field under divine governance.

Application: Guard speech and honor sages/saints; recognize that actions and words have long arcs of consequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.4–5 (his daitya birth and conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Kaśyapa
• Diti
• Sanaka
• Sanakādi sages
• Gatekeepers (Dvārpālas)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Sanakādi sages' curse in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how even a spoken curse (vāk-daṇḍa) by realized sages functions as a moral and cosmic instrument, redirecting beings into roles shaped by consequence and divine order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or karmic consequence?

By stating that Hiraṇyākṣa became a gatekeeper due to a verbal curse, the verse illustrates the Garuda Purana theme that destiny and status shift according to causes—especially contact with ascetic power and ethical transgression.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat speech and conduct with restraint: words can create lasting consequences, and humility toward saints/teachers is emphasized as a safeguard against avoidable karmic outcomes.