Shloka 8

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

विष्णुपत्नी कीर्तिता च श्रीदेवी सत्त्वमानिनी / तमोभिमानिनी दुर्गा कन्यकेति प्रकीर्तिता

Transliteration

viṣṇupatnī kīrtitā ca śrīdevī sattvamāninī / tamobhimāninī durgā kanyaketi prakīrtitā

Translation

അവൾ വിഷ്ണുപത്നിയായി ‘ശ്രീദേവി’ എന്നു കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു, സത്ത്വഗുണമാനിനിയായി; തമോഗുണാഭിമാനിനിയായ ‘ദുർഗ്ഗ’ ‘കന്യാ’ എന്നും പ്രഖ്യാതയാണ്।

Word by Word

• विष्णु-पत्नी: Viṣṇu’s consort
• विष्णु-पत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विष्णोः पत्नी (wife of Viṣṇu)

• कीर्तिता: is called/proclaimed
• कीर्तिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• श्री-देवी: Śrī-devī (Goddess Śrī)
• श्री-देवी: Viśeṣya/Abheda (विधेय/अभेद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय: श्रीः एव देवी (the goddess Śrī)

• सत्त्व-मानिनी: one who identifies with sattva
• सत्त्व-मानिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व-मानिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष: सत्त्वस्य मानिनी/अभिमानिनी (identifying with sattva)

• तमः-अभिमानिनी: one who identifies with tamas
• तमः-अभिमानिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तमस्-अभिमानिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष: तमसः अभिमानिनी (identifying with tamas)

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Viśeṣya/Abheda (विधेय/अभेद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• कन्यका: a maiden
• कन्यका: Viśeṣya/Abheda (विधेय/अभेद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक

• प्रकीर्तिता: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One Devī is praised in multiple aspects aligned with guṇas: Śrī with sattva; Durgā with tamas; ‘Kanyā’ emphasizes autonomous, primordial power.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-traya as modes of prakṛti under īśvara; unity-in-diversity of śakti manifestations.

Application: See psychological states (clarity/inertia) as guṇa-modes; cultivate sattva through devotion and discipline while respecting protective tamasic power as boundary-setting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.9; Garuda Purana 3.16.10

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shri Devi (Lakshmi)
• Durga
• Kanyaka (Virgin Goddess)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Śrī Devī and Durgā together in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a unified Purāṇic view of the Goddess: as Śrī (linked with sattva and auspiciousness) and as Durgā (linked with tamas and formidable power), showing complementary divine functions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the cosmic guṇas (sattva and tamas) that shape character and destiny—key ideas used in the Garuda Purana when discussing how qualities influence karma and outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva (clarity, restraint, devotion) while respectfully acknowledging and disciplining tamasic tendencies; approach the Divine in the form most suited to one’s spiritual needs.