Shloka 12

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

ततस्तदेकचक्रायां ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने / विविशुस्ते महात्मानो निहत्य बकराक्षसम्

Transliteration

tatastadekacakrāyāṃ brāhmaṇasya niveśane / viviśuste mahātmāno nihatya bakarākṣasam

Translation

പിന്നീട് ഏകചക്രാ നഗരത്തിൽ ബക എന്ന രാക്ഷസനെ വധിച്ച്, ആ മഹാത്മാക്കൾ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ വസതിയിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘तस्मात्/अनन्तरम्’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘एकचक्रायाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• एकचक्रायाम्: in Ekacakrā
• एकचक्रायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकचक्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (नगर/देश-नाम)

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निवेशने: in the dwelling/house
• निवेशने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• विविशुः: entered
• विविशुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (पूर्वपद) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘महान् आत्मा यस्य’ इति विशेषणवत् प्रयोगः

• निहत्य: having slain
• निहत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — ‘निहत्य’

• बकराक्षसम्: the demon Baka
• बकराक्षसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Narrator (third-person epic-style narration; not a direct Vishnu–Garuda utterance in this verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protection of society (rakṣaṇa) is righteous when directed against predatory violence; strength serves compassion.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha through dharmic action; tamas (predation) is checked by sattva-guided vīrya.

Application: Use capability to reduce harm: intervene against abuse, support community safety, and protect those without power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: city/village settlement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.13 (journey to Panchala and svayamvara)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Baka (rākṣasa)
• Ekacakrā

FAQs

What is the importance of this Ekacakrā episode in the Garuda Purana?

It reinforces dharma through a narrative: the righteous protect a brāhmaṇa household by eliminating a violent rākṣasa threat.

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

This specific verse is not an afterlife instruction; it is a moral narrative emphasizing righteous action (dharma), which Garuda Purana elsewhere links to post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Stand against harm and exploitation, protect vulnerable households, and uphold dharma through courageous, disciplined action.