Shloka 69

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

विधारणश्च दुर्मेधा अयमेकगणः स्मृतः / ईदृशश्च सदृक्षश्च एतादृक्षो मिताशनः

Transliteration

vidhāraṇaśca durmedhā ayamekagaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ / īdṛśaśca sadṛkṣaśca etādṛkṣo mitāśanaḥ

Translation

‘വിധാരണ’യും ‘ദുർമേധാ’യും—ഇത് ഒരേ ഗണമായി (വർഗമായി) സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇത്തരക്കാരും, ഇവർക്കു സമാനരായ മറ്റുള്ളവരും—അതേ തരത്തിലുള്ളവർ—അൽപാഹാരികളാണ്.

Word by Word

• विधारणः: supporter/holder; sustaining
• विधारणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + धृ (धातु) → विधारण (प्रातिपदिक, कृदन्त/भाव-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-नाम (धारण/धारणम् इत्यर्थे)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• दुर्मेधा: one of poor intellect
• दुर्मेधा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुष्टा मेधा यस्य)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकगणः: one group
• एकगणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (एकः गणः)

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: Karma/Predicate (कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is called/considered’

• ईदृशः: such as this
• ईदृशः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सदृक्षः: similar
• सदृक्षः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एतादृक्षः: of this kind
• एतादृक्षः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मिताशनः: one who eats moderately
• मिताशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित (कृदन्त, क्त) + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मितम् अशनम् यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mitāśana (measured eating) and disciplined living are defining marks of certain exalted hosts; restraint is a spiritual power.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha as support for sattva and clarity; tapas as purifier enabling higher realization.

Application: Adopt moderation in diet and consumption; cultivate simplicity to strengthen attention and ethical steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6 (gaṇa enumerations; cosmic taxonomy)

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying beings like ‘Vidhāraṇa’ and ‘Durmedhā’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the Purana’s method of grouping post-death conditions into named categories, indicating that karmic outcomes can manifest as specific types with recognizable traits (here, scant subsistence).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

In the dialogue context, Vishnu enumerates kinds of states/beings associated with karmic results; the soul’s journey is portrayed as moving through defined conditions, some marked by deprivation such as living on little food.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clear discernment (avoid durmedhā—confused, unethical judgment) and disciplined living; the text frames deprivation and limitation as possible outcomes of harmful or deluded conduct.