Shloka 5

Devanagari script

विराधनगरे राजा वीरवाहननामकः / धर्मात्मा सत्यसन्धश्च वदान्यो विप्रतुष्टिकृत्

Transliteration

virādhanagare rājā vīravāhananāmakaḥ / dharmātmā satyasandhaśca vadānyo vipratuṣṭikṛt

Translation

വിരാധന നഗരത്തിൽ വീരവാഹനൻ എന്നൊരു രാജാവുണ്ടായിരുന്നു—ധർമ്മാത്മാവ്, സത്യനിഷ്ഠൻ, ദാനശീലൻ, ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ സന്തോഷിപ്പിച്ച് തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• विराधनगरे: in the city of Virādha
• विराधनगरे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराध + नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विराधस्य नगरम्)

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वीरवाहननामकः: named Vīravāhana
• वीरवाहननामकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरवाहन + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वीरवाहन-नाम यस्य) विशेषणम्

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• सत्यसन्धः: true to his vow; truthful
• सत्यसन्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सत्ये सन्धा/प्रतिज्ञा यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• वदान्यः: generous
• वदान्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वदान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• विप्रतुष्टिकृत्: one who pleases/brings satisfaction to Brahmins
• विप्रतुष्टिकृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र + तुष्टि + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (विप्राणां तुष्टिं करोति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ideal kingship: truthfulness, generosity, and honoring brāhmaṇas/learned persons as pillars of social-sacral order.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa cultivation through satya and dāna; dharma as support for inner purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Practice truthfulness, generosity, and support of education/spiritual learning; leaders should foster ethical institutions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent use of dharmic kings as exemplars for rites and gifts (motif-level)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• King Vīravāhana
• Virādhana city

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring brāhmaṇas (vipra-tuṣṭi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents vipra-tuṣṭi—supporting and satisfying brāhmaṇas—as a hallmark of dharmic kingship, implying it generates merit (puṇya) that supports auspicious outcomes, including in post-death passages described in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse connect truthfulness (satya) with karmic destiny?

By describing the king as satya-sandha (steadfast in truth), the text frames truthfulness as a stable inner vow that strengthens dharma and becomes a key cause of favorable karmic results in the broader Garuda Purana narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with integrity (satya), practice generosity (dāna), and respectfully support authentic learning and spiritual service—these are portrayed as concrete dharmic actions that build lasting merit.