Shloka 18

Devanagari script

ममौ ययौ वैश्वदेवी पञ्चाश्वैश्च यतिर्भवेत् / मभौ समौ जलधरमालाब्ध्यन्त्यैर्यतिभवेत्

Transliteration

mamau yayau vaiśvadevī pañcāśvaiśca yatirbhavet / mabhau samau jaladharamālābdhyantyairyatibhavet

Translation

ലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ ‘മ’ ‘മൗ’ എന്നും ‘യ’ ‘യൗ’ എന്നും ആയിരിക്കെ, വൈശ്വദേവീപ്രഭാവവും അമ്പത് വർണ്ണശക്തികളുടെ സമുച്ചയവും കൂടെയുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ യതിഭാവം ലഭിക്കും. അതുപോലെ ‘മ’ ‘ഭൗ’ സമത്വത്തിൽ നിലകൊണ്ട് ‘ജലധരമാലാ’യുടെ അന്ത്യംവരെ പ്രാപ്തിയുണ്ടായാലും യതി ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ममौ: (the gaṇas) ma and mau
• ममौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ममौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair

• ययौ: (the gaṇas) ya and yau
• ययौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ययौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair

• वैश्वदेवी: (the metre) Vaiśvadevī
• वैश्वदेवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वदेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम

• पञ्चाश्वैः: by ‘five horses’ (a numerical marker)
• पञ्चाश्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; छन्दः-गणना-चिह्न (technical count-marker)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• यतिः: caesura/pause
• यतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दः-विशेष (caesura)

• भवेत्: should be/occurs
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मभौ: (the gaṇas) ma and bhau
• मभौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मभौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• समौ: (the gaṇas) sa and mau
• समौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• जलधर-माला-अब्धि-अन्त्यैः: by (the markers) cloud, garland, ocean, and last
• जलधर-माला-अब्धि-अन्त्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलधर (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; गणना-चिह्न-समाहार (list of count-markers)

• यतिः: caesura/pause
• यतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be/occurs
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Renunciation (yati-bhāva) is linked to alignment/balance of signs and universal divine order (Vaiśvadevī; ‘fifty’ as akṣara-śakti), suggesting disciplined speech and mind as gateways to vairāgya.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and śama-dama supported by śabda-sādhana; the ‘fifty letters’ as Mātrikā-śakti harnessed toward inner restraint.

Application: Treat speech/recitation as discipline: maintain measured articulation (akṣara-samyama) and balanced cadence; cultivate yati-like restraint through daily mantra/recitation and simplified living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: hermitage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209 (yati markers within prosodic coding)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Viśvedevas

FAQs

What is the importance of becoming a yati (renunciate) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats yatihood as a distinct dharmic outcome indicated by specific spiritual/phonetic-astrological signs, emphasizing renunciation as a recognized life-path rather than a random choice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting yati (ascetic life), it points to a path centered on detachment and disciplined living, which the Garuda Purana commonly links with purification of karma and higher post-death trajectories.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that renunciation is grounded in discipline, study, and inner readiness; cultivate restraint, truthfulness, and regular spiritual practice before adopting major vows.