Shloka 18

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

मत्सेवां च किमर्थं वै ह्याचरिष्यन्ति सुव्रताः / तस्यां रक्ताश्च ता देव्यस्त्वब्रुवन्स्वचिकीर्षितम्

Transliteration

matsevāṃ ca kimarthaṃ vai hyācariṣyanti suvratāḥ / tasyāṃ raktāśca tā devyastvabruvansvacikīrṣitam

Translation

“ਸੁਵ੍ਰਤ ਲੋਕ ਮੇਰੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਿਸ ਲਈ ਕਰਨਗੇ?”—ਇਉਂ ਪੁੱਛੇ ਜਾਣ ਤੇ, ਉਸ ਦੇਵੀ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ-ਭਾਵ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਦੇਵੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਕਹਿ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

Word by Word

• मत्-सेवाम्: service to me
• मत्-सेवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत् = मम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• किम्-अर्थम्: for what reason/why
• किम्-अर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय; अर्थे ‘कस्मै कारणाय’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; often causal/emphatic)

• आचरिष्यन्ति: will practice/perform
• आचरिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सुव्रताः: the virtuous (vow-observing) ones
• सुव्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तस्याम्: in her/therein
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रक्ताः: attached/affectionate
• रक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (attached/affectionate)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताः: those (f.)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देव्यः: goddesses/divine ladies
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/contrast)

• अब्रुवन्: said/spoke
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्व-चिकीर्षितम्: their own intended action
• स्व-चिकीर्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + चिकीर्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; desiderative PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘स्वस्य चिकीर्षितम्’ (intended act)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra contextually)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True sevā is purposeful and intention-revealing; the deity tests and clarifies the devotee’s aim before granting guidance.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of saṅkalpa (intention) precedes grace; devotion matures into right desire aligned with dharma.

Application: Before seeking blessings/skills, examine motives; articulate intentions honestly; align goals with welfare and righteousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.17 (their long service leading to this question)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devyas (goddesses)

FAQs

What is the importance of mat-sevā (service to Vishnu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames devotion as purposeful practice: the “suvrataḥ” undertake service with a clear intention, indicating that bhakti is not merely ritual but a deliberate, vow-supported path of dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana themes?

Even within Preta-kāṇḍa’s after-death framework, the text repeatedly stresses intention and devotion; here, the focus is on the inner resolve (svacikīrṣitam) behind worship, which complements external rites by shaping one’s spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice worship/service with a defined ethical aim—steadfastness in vows (suvrata) and clarity of intention—so that daily devotion becomes disciplined conduct, not just performance.