Shloka 23

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

त्वया यत्नकृता कृत्वानखस्थौ गजकच्छपौ / नभस्पपिनिरालंबे सर्वतः परिवारितौ

Transliteration

tvayā yatnakṛtā kṛtvānakhasthau gajakacchapau / nabhaspapinirālaṃbe sarvataḥ parivāritau

Translation

汝の精励によって、象と亀とは汝の爪の上に保たれ、しかも汝は何の支えもなく虚空に懸かり、四方より取り囲まれている。

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• यत्नकृता: done with effort
• यत्नकृता: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यत्नेन कृतः), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• नखस्थौ: situated on the nails/claws
• नखस्थौ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नखे स्थितौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• गजकच्छपौ: the elephant and the tortoise
• गजकच्छपौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + कच्छप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (गजश्च कच्छपश्च), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• नभः: sky
• नभः: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पपिनि: (in) the region/expanse (uncertain reading)
• पपिनि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; (पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-शब्द)

• निरालम्बे: in the supportless (space)
• निरालम्बे: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरालम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (supportless)

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverb)

• परिवारितौ: were surrounded/encircled
• परिवारितौ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ (धातु) → वारित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) प्रयुक्तं विधेयवत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stuti (praise) as recognition of divine capacity to uphold worlds and restrain chaos.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-śakti and līlā: the Lord’s power sustains what seems impossible to the limited mind.

Application: Cultivate reverent remembrance (smaraṇa) when facing instability; use stotra-like recollection to steady the mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sky/firmament

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Upakhyana sections): praise of Garuḍa’s feats and service to Viṣṇu (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Elephant (Gaja)
• Tortoise (Kacchapa)

FAQs

What is the importance of this illustrative example in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights how deliberate effort can create a precarious situation—symbolizing how intentional acts (especially harmful ones) lead to being “held” by one’s own deeds and surrounded by consequences.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences?

The imagery of being unsupported in the sky while carrying heavy burdens suggests the instability of actions rooted in wrongdoing—karma becomes the force that suspends and constrains the doer.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid schemes that harm others or rely on unstable foundations; choose truthful, dharmic actions so that your efforts do not become burdens that trap you later.