Shloka 6

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तदा माता दितिर्देवी हिरण्याक्षमुवाच सा / दितिरुवाच / वत्सलस्त्वं महाभागमा तपस्वाष्टहायनः

Transliteration

tadā mātā ditirdevī hiraṇyākṣamuvāca sā / ditiruvāca / vatsalastvaṃ mahābhāgamā tapasvāṣṭahāyanaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മാതാവായ ദിതി ദേവി ഹിരണ്യാക്ഷനോട് പറഞ്ഞു— “വത്സാ, മഹാഭാഗാ! നീ ഇനിയും എട്ട് വയസ്സുകാരൻ; തപസ്സു ചെയ്യരുത്।”

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दितिः: Diti
• दितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• देवी: goddess/lady
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे न, अपि तु विशेषण-रूपे (appositional noun)

• हिरण्याक्षम्: Hiraṇyākṣa (as object)
• हिरण्याक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्याक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; हिरण्य + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दितिः: Diti
• दितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश (speaker tag)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वत्सलः: affectionate, dear
• वत्सलः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative-function)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (addressing ‘you’)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक; महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘महान् भागः यस्य’)

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• तपस्व: perform austerity
• तपस्व: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अष्टहायनः: eight years old
• अष्टहायनः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject-modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टहायन (प्रातिपदिक; अष्ट + हायन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्ट हायनानि यस्य)

Speaker

Diti

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriateness (yogyatā) of austerity according to age and capacity; compassion moderates rigor.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka in choosing sādhana; the body-mind as an instrument to be protected for higher ends.

Application: Match spiritual practices to one’s stage of life and strength; avoid self-harm in the name of discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.7-10 (continuation: attachment vs. Vishnu-bhakti)

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Hiranyaksha

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas (austerity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tapas as powerful and consequential, requiring maturity and discernment—hence Diti cautions the young Hiraṇyākṣa against undertaking it too early.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it highlights that intentional actions like tapas shape one’s destiny; in the Garuda Purana’s broader worldview, such deliberate karma influences future outcomes and spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined practices gradually and appropriately—undertake vows, fasting, or intense disciplines with guidance, readiness, and balanced responsibility.