Shloka 5

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

अङ्गस्य वेणः पुत्रस्तु नास्तिको धर्मवर्जितः / अधर्ंमकारी वेण(न) श्च मुनिभिश्च कुशैर्हतः

Transliteration

aṅgasya veṇaḥ putrastu nāstiko dharmavarjitaḥ / adharṃmakārī veṇa(na) śca munibhiśca kuśairhataḥ

Translation

アンガの子ヴェーナは、不信にしてダルマを離れた者であった。アダルマに耽ったそのヴェーナは、聖仙たちによりクシャ草の刃をもって討たれた。

Word by Word

• अङ्गस्य: of Aṅga
• अङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वेणः: Vena
• वेणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नास्तिकः: atheistic/impious
• नास्तिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर्मवर्जितः: devoid of dharma
• धर्मवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘धर्मेण वर्जितः’/‘धर्मात् वर्जितः’)

• अधर्मकारी: doer of unrighteousness
• अधर्मकारी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर्म + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘अधर्मं करोति’)

• वेणः: Vena
• वेणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass (as weapon)
• कुशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• हतः: was slain
• हतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + त (क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘was slain’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra, traditional Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atheistic rejection of dharma by a ruler leads to downfall; rishi-tejas enforces moral order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the self-correcting tendency of dharma within the cosmic order; tamasic denial of dharma yields destruction.

Application: Leaders must uphold ethical norms; communities must non-violently (or minimally harmfully) restrain systemic wrongdoing through lawful, principled means.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/royal realm (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narratives on adharmic kings and consequences; didactic contrasts between dharmic and adharmic conduct

Characters & Entities

• Aṅga
• Veṇa
• Munis
• Kuśa

FAQs

What is the importance of the Veṇa episode in the Garuda Purana?

It illustrates that rejecting dharma and promoting adharma—especially by a ruler—destroys social order and invites decisive corrective action by dharma-protecting sages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames a moral causality: persistent adharma leads to severe consequences, establishing the ethical basis for later Garuda Purana teachings on post-death outcomes tied to one’s conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat dharma (ethical duty, truthfulness, restraint) as non-negotiable—especially in leadership and public life—because normalizing adharma harms both the individual and the wider community.