Shloka 11

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

उमायाश्च तथा रुद्रः सदा बहुगुणाधिकः / एवं त्वयोक्तं भगवन्निश्चयार्थं मम प्रभो

Transliteration

umāyāśca tathā rudraḥ sadā bahuguṇādhikaḥ / evaṃ tvayoktaṃ bhagavanniścayārthaṃ mama prabho

Translation

ഉമയോടുള്ള ബന്ധത്തിൽ രുദ്രൻ എപ്പോഴും അനേകം ഗുണങ്ങളിൽ അധികനാകുന്നതുപോലെ, അങ്ങനെ തന്നെയാണ് നിങ്ങൾ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തത്, ഹേ ഭഗവൻ—എന്റെ നിശ്ചയത്തിനായി, ഹേ പ്രഭോ।

Word by Word

• उमायाः: of Umā
• उमायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise/so')

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time: 'always')

• बहु-गुण-अधिकः: superior in many qualities
• बहु-गुण-अधिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of Rudra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बहूनां गुणानाम् अधिकः = 'superior in many qualities')

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः ('said')

• भगवन्: O Blessed Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निश्चय-अर्थम्: for (my) certainty
• निश्चय-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('for the sake of certainty/ascertainment')

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Clarification-seeking (niścayārtha) regarding relative excellence (guṇa-adhikya) among deities/consorts and the grounds of such statements.

Vedantic Theme: Tattva-viveka and pramāṇa-sammati: moving from hearsay/comparison to settled understanding through authoritative instruction.

Application: When encountering conflicting praise of deities, seek coherent doctrinal grounding from trusted śāstra/ācārya rather than resting in mere comparison.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.13-15 (request for cause; Kṛṣṇa’s explanation of ‘uttamāveśa’ and dependence)

Characters & Entities

• Umā (Pārvatī)
• Rudra (Śiva)
• Bhagavān (Lord Vishnu as addressee)

FAQs

What is the importance of seeking niścaya (certainty) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the disciple’s approach—asking the Lord to confirm teachings so understanding becomes firm (niścaya), not merely assumed.

How does this verse fit the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue style of the Garuda Purana?

Garuda repeats or references what Vishnu has said and then requests clarification for his own assured understanding, a common didactic pattern in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When studying scripture or performing rites, verify meanings through reliable teaching and reflection so practice is grounded in clear understanding rather than doubt.