Shloka 73

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

शिवस्य वरतश्चैवाप्यवध्यान्देवमानुषैः / बद्ध्वा वृषान्नृपाञ्जित्वा प्राप्ता नीला महाखग

Transliteration

śivasya varataścaivāpyavadhyāndevamānuṣaiḥ / baddhvā vṛṣānnṛpāñjitvā prāptā nīlā mahākhaga

Translation

ໂດຍພອນຂອງພຣະສິວະ ພວກເຂົາກາຍເປັນຜູ້ບໍ່ອາດຖືກລະເມີດ—ທັງເທວະແລະມະນຸດບໍ່ອາດໂຈມຕີໄດ້. ມັດງົວຜູ້ ແລະຊະນະກະສັດທັງຫຼາຍ ແລ້ວ ນົກໃຫຍ່ນີລາ ໄດ້ບັນລຸສະພາບທີ່ກຳນົດໄວ້ແກ່ນາງ.

Word by Word

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• varataḥ: from the boon
• varataḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावन/समुच्चय)

• avadhyān: invulnerable/not to be slain
• avadhyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vadhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); negated adjective

• deva-mānuṣaiḥ: by gods and humans
• deva-mānuṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'by gods and men'

• baddhvā: having bound
• baddhvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bandh (बन्ध् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), 'having bound'

• vṛṣān: bulls
• vṛṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nṛpān: kings
• nṛpān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jitvā: having conquered
• jitvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (जि धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), 'having conquered'

• prāptā: was obtained/was won
• prāptā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nīlā: Nīlā
• nīlā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-khaga: O great bird
• mahā-khaga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + khaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'great bird' (address)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine boon and accumulated merit can render one ‘avadhya’ (inviolable), enabling the fruition of a destined course; power is portrayed as consequence of prior causes and divine favor.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) operating within karma-phala; worldly sovereignty as transient manifestation of guṇa/śakti rather than ultimate reality.

Application: Treat power and success as contingent on ethical causes and higher order; cultivate humility and restraint when endowed with advantage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.74-75 (Nīlā’s entry and subsequent birth narrative); Garuda Purana 3.20.1-2 (Bhadrā’s prior-cycle account and tapas-like bodily discipline)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Manushyas
• Nila (Mahakhaga)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śiva’s boon in this Garuda Purana verse?

It highlights how a divine boon can render a being “avadhya” (unslayable), showing that cosmic outcomes in the Purana often turn on granted boons and their ethical consequences.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes like dharma and consequence?

By depicting inviolability and conquest, it frames power as something enabled by divine sanction, implying that extraordinary protection or strength still operates within a moral-cosmic order overseen by the gods.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat power, privilege, or protection as responsibility: use strength to uphold dharma rather than domination, since boons (advantages) can amplify both virtue and harm.