Shloka 26

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

स्थूलजङ्घो यदा रामः शब्दगामी च लक्ष्मणः / घनकेशी यदा सीता त्रयस्ते दुः खभाजनम्

Transliteration

sthūlajaṅgho yadā rāmaḥ śabdagāmī ca lakṣmaṇaḥ / ghanakeśī yadā sītā trayaste duḥ khabhājanam

Translation

രാമന്‍ കട്ടിയുള്ള ജംഘകളുള്ളവനായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ലക്ഷ്മണൻ ശബ്ദത്തെ പിന്തുടർന്ന് സഞ്ചരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, സീതയ്ക്ക് ഘനമായ ജടാകേശം ഉണ്ടാകുമ്പോൾ—ആ മൂവരും ദുഃഖഭാജനമാകും.

Word by Word

• स्थूलजङ्घः: thick-shanked
• स्थूलजङ्घः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल-जङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक; स्थूल + जङ्घ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (राम-विशेषणम्)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (when)

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• शब्दगामी: one who moves by sound; sound-following
• शब्दगामी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द-गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक; शब्द + गामिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (लक्ष्मण-विशेषणम्)

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

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• घनकेशी: thick-haired
• घनकेशी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन-केशिन् (प्रातिपदिक; घन + केशिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (सीता-विशेषणम्)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (when)

• सीता: Sītā
• सीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• ते: those (they)
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• दुःखभाजनम्: a receptacle of sorrow; destined for suffering
• दुःखभाजनम्: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख-भाजन (प्रातिपदिक; दुःख + भाजन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विधेय-नाम (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physical/behavioral portents accompany the ripening of suffering; even exalted persons undergo duḥkha when karmic conditions mature.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha as part of saṃsāra; cultivate titikṣā (forbearance) and devotion amid trials; appearances/omens indicate, not override, causal order.

Application: Treat warning signs as prompts for preparedness and compassion, not panic; strengthen inner resources and dharmic response to adversity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: itihāsa landscape (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: karma ripens with signs and circumstances; suffering is not negated by status (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita

FAQs

What is the importance of omens (nimitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats unusual bodily or behavioral signs as indicators of approaching distress, emphasizing vigilance and dharmic correction when inauspicious signs appear.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by warning of impending sorrow through omens, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that conduct and signs in life can foreshadow suffering and its karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the teaching as a prompt for self-audit—restore discipline, health, truthfulness, and dharmic habits when life shows signs of decline, rather than ignoring warning patterns.