Shloka 4

Devanagari script

न पापकृत्कश्चिदासीत्तस्मिन्राज्यं प्रशासति / नासीच्चौरभयं तार्क्ष्य न क्षुद्रभयमेव हि

Transliteration

na pāpakṛtkaścidāsīttasminrājyaṃ praśāsati / nāsīccaurabhayaṃ tārkṣya na kṣudrabhayameva hi

Translation

ഹേ താർക്ഷ്യ (ഗരുഡാ)! അവൻ ആ രാജ്യം ഭരിക്കുമ്പോൾ പാപം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ആരുമില്ലായിരുന്നു. കള്ളഭയം ഇല്ല; സത്യത്തിൽ അണുവോളം ഭയവും ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• pāpakṛt: a sinner/evil-doer
• pāpakṛt: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—कृत् (कर्तरि) ‘पापकृत्’ = पापं करोति इति

• kaścit: anyone
• kaścit: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• āsīt: was/existed
• āsīt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tasmin: in him/under him (in that time)
• tasmin: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• rājyam: the kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• praśāsati: (he) rules/governs
• praśāsati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-śās (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• āsīt: was/existed
• āsīt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• caura-bhayam: fear of thieves
• caura-bhayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caura (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चौरस्य भयम्)

• tārkṣya: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• tārkṣya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• kṣudra-bhayam: petty fear
• kṣudra-bhayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (क्षुद्रं भयम्)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharmic kingship removes causes of sin and fear; social peace arises when adharma is restrained at the root.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of social order) as an expression of sattva and dharma; fearlessness (abhaya) as a fruit of righteousness.

Application: Cultivate ethical leadership and just institutions; reduce fear by preventing wrongdoing and ensuring fair protection for all.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/realm of governance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dharma/raja-dharma passages where righteous rule yields prosperity and safety)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)

FAQs

What is the importance of fearlessness in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links fearlessness to dharmic governance and moral conduct: when Dharma prevails, sinful actions and social threats like theft naturally subside, creating a life free from even minor fears.

How does this verse relate to karma and sin in the Garuda Purana?

By stating that no pāpakṛt (sinner) existed under righteous rule, the verse implies that a Dharma-aligned environment discourages karmically harmful actions, reducing causes that lead to suffering and fear.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate Dharma in daily life—truthfulness, non-harming, and fair conduct—because ethical behavior reduces conflict and anxiety, producing a more secure home and community.