Shloka 14

Brahmā’s Curse, Four Births, and the Dharma of Shared Embodiment

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

एवं शप्तास्तु ताः सर्वा ब्रह्मणा पक्षिसत्तम / तदा विचारयामासुर्मिलित्वा मेरुमूर्धनि

Transliteration

evaṃ śaptāstu tāḥ sarvā brahmaṇā pakṣisattama / tadā vicārayāmāsurmilitvā merumūrdhani

Translation

ਹੇ ਪੰਛੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ! ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਪ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ਪਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਸਭ ਮેરੂ ਪਰਬਤ ਦੀ ਚੋਟੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋਏ ਅਤੇ ਮਿਲ ਬੈਠ ਕੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਲੱਗੇ।

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• śaptāḥ: cursed
• śaptāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śapta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (PPP)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/Expletive

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• brahmaṇā: by Brahma
• brahmaṇā: Kartri (Agent/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• pakṣisattama: O best of birds (Garuda)
• pakṣisattama: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣisattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• vicārayāmāsuḥ: deliberated/considered
• vicārayāmāsuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-car (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Plural (Periphrastic Perfect)

• militvā: having met/assembled
• militvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mil (धातु)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund/क्त्वा)

• merumūrdhani: on the peak of Meru
• merumūrdhani: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: merumūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In crisis caused by a higher authority’s decree, one should gather, deliberate, and seek a righteous remedy rather than act impulsively.

Vedantic Theme: Daiva and karma as governing forces; right action (dharma) begins with viveka (discernment).

Application: When facing unavoidable constraints, consult wise counsel, reflect collectively, and choose the least harmful, most dharmic course.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain-summit (śikhara/mūrdhan)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.15-16 (on curse and association); Garuda Purana 3.17.17-18 (service to Bhāratī as remedy)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Garuda
• Meru

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmā’s curse in this Garuda Purana verse?

It functions as a turning point: the curse compels the affected beings to assemble and seek a resolution, showing how divine ordinances drive cosmic events.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings?

Indirectly, it sets a narrative framework—Garuda Purana often teaches through cause-and-effect episodes; here, the emphasis is on consequences of higher law (daiva-vidhi) and the need for right counsel.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When faced with unavoidable consequences, respond with thoughtful consultation and dharmic deliberation rather than panic—seek wise counsel and choose corrective action.