Shloka 9

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

कार्तवीर्यं जघानाजौ कश्यपाय महीं ददौ / यागं कृत्वा महाबाहुर्महेन्द्रे पर्वते स्थितः

Transliteration

kārtavīryaṃ jaghānājau kaśyapāya mahīṃ dadau / yāgaṃ kṛtvā mahābāhurmahendre parvate sthitaḥ

Translation

അവൻ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ കാർതവീര്യനെ വധിച്ച് കശ്യപന് ഭൂമി ദാനമായി നൽകി. യാഗം നിർവഹിച്ചു മഹാബാഹു മഹേന്ദ്രപർവതത്തിൽ വസിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• कार्तवीर्यम्: Kārtavīrya (name)
• कार्तवीर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• जघान: killed
• जघान: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अजौ: in battle
• अजौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अज’ = युद्ध (battle) अर्थे

• कश्यपाय: to Kaśyapa
• कश्यपाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• महीम्: the earth/land
• महीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यागम्: a sacrifice
• यागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक; महा + बाहु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• महेन्द्रे: on Mahendra (mountain)
• महेन्द्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; महा + इन्द्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पर्वते: on the mountain
• पर्वते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थितः: stood/was situated
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical dialogue frame of Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣatriya valor must culminate in dharmic restitution and yajña; power is purified by gift and sacrifice.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: action offered and relinquished, reducing egoic ownership (tyāga) while upholding cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: After success or conflict, make amends, give appropriately (dāna), and stabilize the mind through disciplined ritual or contemplative retreat.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain; terrestrial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Purvakhanda) narrative sequences on Rāma/Paraśurāma lineages and dharma-kathā context

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya (Arjuna)
• Kaśyapa
• Mount Mahendra

FAQs

What is the importance of giving the earth to Kaśyapa in this Garuda Purana verse?

It highlights the restoration of dharmic order after conflict—land and sovereignty are treated as a trust to be relinquished to a worthy sage when power has been misused.

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes yajña (sacred duty) and renunciation after decisive action—core virtues that, in Garuda Purana’s ethical frame, support auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use power responsibly, make restitution when harm is done, and anchor life in disciplined duty (yajña as selfless service/ritual), followed by restraint rather than attachment to dominance.