Shloka 10

Brahmā’s Curse, Four Births, and the Dharma of Shared Embodiment

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

त्रिवारानन्तरं ब्रह्मा शप्तवांस्ता महाप्रभुः / त्रिवारं वञ्चनं यस्मादेकवारं च दर्शनम्

Transliteration

trivārānantaraṃ brahmā śaptavāṃstā mahāprabhuḥ / trivāraṃ vañcanaṃ yasmādekavāraṃ ca darśanam

Translation

ನಂತರ ಮಹಾಪ್ರಭು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನು ಅವರನ್ನು ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಮೂರ ಬಾರಿ ಶಪಿಸಿದನು—“ಮೂರು ಬಾರಿ ವಂಚನೆ ನಡೆದಿರುವುದರಿಂದ, ಸತ್ಯ ದರ್ಶನವು ಒಂದೇ ಬಾರಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಾಗಲಿ.”

Word by Word

• त्रिवारम्: three times
• त्रिवारम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि वाराणि); क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• अनन्तरम्: afterwards
• अनन्तरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: thereafter/immediately after)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शप्तवान्: cursed
• शप्तवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु) → शप्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवत्/Perfect participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक—finite-verb sense ‘cursed’

• ताः: them
• ताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• महाप्रभुः: the great lord
• महाप्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् प्रभुः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण-रूपेण

• त्रिवारम्: three times
• त्रिवारम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + वार
• Form: द्विगु; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial)

• वञ्चनम्: deception
• वञ्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक (act of deception)

• यस्मात्: because of which
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतु/कारणार्थे (ablative of cause: because of which)

• एकवारम्: once
• एकवारम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial)

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

• दर्शनम्: a sight/appearance
• दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाव/फलवाचक (seeing/appearance)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Repeated deceit yields proportionate restriction of grace/encounter; actions pattern future access and outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyati: moral causality governs experience; adharma contracts auspicious contact (darśana).

Application: Recognize that repeated unethical choices create long-term constraints; cultivate integrity to preserve trust and ‘darśana’ (access, opportunity, blessing).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.9 (threefold deception); Garuda Purana 3.17.11-13 (rebirth-fruits of the curse)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding deception in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links repeated deceit (vañcana) with a restrictive karmic outcome, showing that dishonesty reduces one’s access to auspicious grace and rightful recognition (darśana).

How does this verse explain karmic consequence in narrative form?

By framing the result as Brahmā’s threefold curse, the text presents karma as a moral law: the frequency of wrongdoing (three deceptions) shapes the limitation of the reward (a single darśana).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice truthfulness in speech and conduct; repeated small acts of cheating accumulate consequences, while integrity preserves trust, merit, and spiritual clarity.