Shloka 31

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

मुद्गलस्याभिमानं हि नाशयित्वा च मारुतः / रमयामास तत्रस्था भारत्यादिवराङ्गनाः

Transliteration

mudgalasyābhimānaṃ hi nāśayitvā ca mārutaḥ / ramayāmāsa tatrasthā bhāratyādivarāṅganāḥ

Translation

Tendo de fato destruído o orgulho de Mudgala, Māruta (o deus do Vento) então deleitou as excelentes mulheres ali presentes — Bhāratī e as demais.

Word by Word

• mudgalasya: of Mudgala
• mudgalasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudgala (मुद्गल)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (Shashthi), Singular

• abhimānam: pride/arrogance
• abhimānam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhimāna (अभिमान)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle

• nāśayitvā: having destroyed
• nāśayitvā: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: naś (नश्) - Causative
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• mārutaḥ: the Wind God (Vayu)
• mārutaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (मारुत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (Prathama), Singular

• ramayāmāsa: enjoyed / caused to enjoy
• ramayāmāsa: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (रम्) - Causative
• Form: Lit Lakara (Periphrastic Perfect), Prathama Purusha, Singular

• tatrasthāḥ: standing there
• tatrasthāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tatrastha (तत्रस्थ)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Plural

• bhāratyādivarāṅganāḥ: Bharati and other excellent women
• bhāratyādivarāṅganāḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratyādivarāṅganā (भारत्यादिवराङ्गना)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahamkara (pride) obstructs spiritual stature; divine forces may act to dismantle it for dharmic restoration.

Vedantic Theme: Ahamkara as a knot (granthi) binding consciousness; humility as a prerequisite for higher knowledge.

Application: Cultivate humility through seva, self-audit, and accepting correction; treat praise/blame as transient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama clearing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17 (Mudgala’s pride and Maruta’s intervention)

Characters & Entities

• Mudgala
• Maruta (Vayu)
• Bharati

FAQs

What is the importance of destroying pride (abhimāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights abhimāna as an inner obstacle; its removal restores harmony and makes one fit for higher conduct and divine association.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or spiritual progress?

By showing that ego is actively subdued (here by Māruta), the verse implies that spiritual progress depends on humility and purification of character, not merely status or learning.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility by accepting correction, reducing self-importance, and using speech (Bhāratī) to uplift others rather than to assert superiority.