Shloka 29

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

उच्चैः श्रवाः स किंवर्णः शुक्ल इत्येव भाषते / कृष्णवर्णमहं मन्ये पूर्वदृष्टमुवाच ह

Transliteration

uccaiḥ śravāḥ sa kiṃvarṇaḥ śukla ityeva bhāṣate / kṛṣṇavarṇamahaṃ manye pūrvadṛṣṭamuvāca ha

Translation

Quando lhe perguntaram: “De que cor é esse Uccaiḥśravā?”, ele respondeu: “É branco.” Mas eu o considero negro; assim ele falou conforme o que já tinha visto antes.

Word by Word

• उच्चैःश्रवाः: Uccaiḥśravā (name of the horse)
• उच्चैःश्रवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्चैः + श्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (उच्चैः श्रवः यस्य) नामरूपेण

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• किंवर्णः: of what color?
• किंवर्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक; तत्पुरुष (कः वर्णः यस्य)

• शुक्लः: white
• शुक्लः: Kriya (Predicate nominal/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• भाषते: speaks/says
• भाषते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• कृष्णवर्णम्: black color
• कृष्णवर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कृष्णः वर्णः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्ये: think/consider
• मन्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• पूर्वदृष्टम्: seen earlier
• पूर्वदृष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + दृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √दृश्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पूर्वं दृष्टम्)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ह: indeed (particle)
• ह: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पदपूरण/निपात (expletive particle)

Speaker

Narrator/Teacher in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework (instructional voice recounting an example)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: False speech (anṛta) in testimony distorts dharma and yields binding consequences.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-driven action (karma) tightens bondage; satya aligns with ṛta and purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: In disputes, speak only what is known/seen; avoid pressured lying; if uncertain, state uncertainty rather than fabricate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.240 (Uccaiḥśravā color dispute; wager mechanics)

Characters & Entities

• Uccaiḥśravā

FAQs

What is the importance of this Uccaiḥśravā color example in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights that speech should align with true perception and that repeating claims without correct seeing/knowing can distort truth—an ethical point used in dharma instruction.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

In the Vishnu–Garuda instructional style, such examples reinforce moral discipline (satya) and careful discernment, which underpin ritual correctness and post-death guidance in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Verify before asserting, avoid hearsay, and practice truthful speech—especially in sensitive matters like rites, vows, and guidance given to others.