Shloka 5

Devanagari script

शूलं गृहीत्वा हस्तेनाभ्राम्य चाकाशसंमुखम् / तद्दर्शनान्द्रहा नागा दृष्ट्वा वा नाशमाप्नु युः

Transliteration

śūlaṃ gṛhītvā hastenābhrāmya cākāśasaṃmukham / taddarśanāndrahā nāgā dṛṣṭvā vā nāśamāpnu yuḥ

Translation

ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ತ್ರಿಶೂಲವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಆಕಾಶದತ್ತ ಮುಖಮಾಡಿ ತಿರುಗಿಸಬೇಕು. ಅದನ್ನು ಕಂಡ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ದ್ರೋಹಿ ನಾಗಗಳು ಶೀಘ್ರ ನಾಶವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ—ಅಥವಾ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆಯೇ ವಿನಾಶವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದುತ್ತವೆ.

Word by Word

• शूलम्: trident
• शूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• हस्तेन: with the hand
• हस्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine instrumental singular)

• आभ्राम्य: having whirled/rotated
• आभ्राम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + भ्रम् (धातु) + य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आकाशसंमुखम्: towards the sky; facing the sky
• आकाशसंमुखम्: Gati/Direction (Goal/गति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश + संमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter accusative singular; qualifying implied action/position)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter genitive singular)

• दर्शनात्: from seeing; due to the sight
• दर्शनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter ablative singular)

• द्रुहाः: hostile ones; enemies
• द्रुहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुह् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine nominative plural); ‘द्रुह्’ = द्रोही (enemy/traitor)

• नागाः: serpents
• नागाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine nominative plural)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine accusative singular)

• आप्नुयुः: would attain; should meet with
• आप्नुयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिङ्-लकार (विधिलिङ्/optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (3rd person plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protective ritual action yields immediate pragmatic result (serpent-destruction) when performed with empowered implement and intent.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumental efficacy within saṃsāra: actions can avert danger, yet remain within the realm of cause-effect, not final freedom.

Application: Use protective measures promptly and correctly in danger; combine spiritual confidence with practical caution (avoid provoking harm unnecessarily).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: open space facing the sky (ākāśa-sanmukha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nāga/viṣa fears and protective measures appear in various protective/ritual contexts (conceptual).

Characters & Entities

• Nāgas (serpents)

FAQs

What is the importance of the śūla (trident) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, the śūla functions as a symbol of irresistible divine authority—its mere sight is portrayed as sufficient to bring immediate destruction to hostile beings like nāgas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it reinforces a recurring Garuda Purana theme: in subtle realms, moral and divine law operates with immediacy—certain forces (divine weapons or agents) can swiftly determine outcomes, paralleling how karmic consequences can manifest without delay.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the verse as a reminder to avoid harmful actions and cultivate dharma—when consequences arrive, they may be sudden; spiritual discipline and ethical living are presented as the safest protection.