Shloka 18

Devanagari script

वन (ल) बन्धुर्निरमित्रः प्रत्यङ्गः परहा शुचिः / दृढव्रतः केतुशृगं ऋषयस्तस्य वर्ण्यते

Transliteration

vana (la) bandhurniramitraḥ pratyaṅgaḥ parahā śuciḥ / dṛḍhavrataḥ ketuśṛgaṃ ṛṣayastasya varṇyate

Translation

അവന്റെ ബന്ധു വന(ല) ആകുന്നു; അവൻ ശത്രുവില്ലാത്തവൻ; അവയവങ്ങൾ സുസംഘടിതം; ശത്രുഹന്താവ്, ശുചി, ദൃഢവ്രതൻ. ഋഷികൾ അവനെ ‘കേതുശൃംഗൻ’—ധ്വജസമമായ ശൃംഗധാരി എന്നു വർണ്ണിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वनल: Vanal(a) (proper name)
• वनल: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाठभेदः (वन/वल) सम्भवः

• बन्धुः: kinsman / friend
• बन्धुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निरमित्रः: without enemies
• निरमित्रः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः (अमित्रं न यस्य)

• प्रत्यङ्गः: Pratyaṅga (proper name)
• प्रत्यङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परहा: slayer of foes
• परहा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परं हन्ति इति (नामधात्वर्थ/बहुव्रीहिसदृश-व्युत्पत्ति)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दृढव्रतः: firm in vows
• दृढव्रतः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (दृढं व्रतं यस्य/दृढव्रतः)

• केतुशृगम्: Ketuśṛga (proper name)
• केतुशृगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु + शृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (केतोरिव शृगं/केतु-शृगम्)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• वर्ण्यते: is described
• वर्ण्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-lakṣaṇa: purity, vow-firmness, and fearlessness are marks of the dhārmika/sādhaka.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva as a purifier enabling steadiness of mind; inner purity reflected in outer conduct.

Application: Adopt dṛḍha-vrata (consistent commitments), cultivate śauca, and practice non-reactivity to enmity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical/guṇa descriptions of sādhus and divine attendants in adjacent catalogues

FAQs

What is the importance of purity (śuci) and steadfast vows (dṛḍha-vrata) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse praises purity and unwavering commitment to vows as defining marks of an exemplary being, implying that inner discipline and cleanliness are core dharmic virtues.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes virtues—purity and firm vows—that the Garuda Purana often links with favorable spiritual outcomes, contrasting with the consequences of adharma described elsewhere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain personal and ethical purity, and keep commitments (vratas/discipline) consistently—these qualities are upheld as signs of strength and spiritual integrity.