Shloka 35

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

ततः शक्तिः पृथिव्यात्मा शनैश्चरति सर्वदा / अतः शनैश्चरो नाम उषायाश्च दशाधमाः

Transliteration

tataḥ śaktiḥ pṛthivyātmā śanaiścarati sarvadā / ataḥ śanaiścaro nāma uṣāyāśca daśādhamāḥ

Translation

Depois, esse poder—de essência terrena—move-se sempre lentamente. Por isso é chamado Śanaiścara (“o que se move devagar”); e também se mencionam os dez filhos mais decaídos de Uṣā.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: then/from that)

• शक्तिः: power, energy
• शक्तिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• पृथिव्यात्मा: earth-natured / having the nature of earth
• पृथिव्यात्मा: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पृथिव्याः आत्मा/स्वभावः) used as predicate adjective

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb: slowly)

• चरति: moves
• चरति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'moves/walks'

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time: always)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: सम्बन्ध (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक/तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore)

• शनैश्चरः: Śanaiścara (Saturn)
• शनैश्चरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शनैः + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (शनैः चरति इति) name of Saturn

• नाम: by name
• नाम: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative: 'by name')

• उषायाः: of Uṣā
• उषायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दशाधमाः: tenfold inferior
• दशाधमाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (दशभिः अधमाः / 'tenfold inferior') used predicatively

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Names arise from observed function (slow movement); cosmic forces express elemental essences (earth-nature) and predictable motion.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-tattva expression in cosmic order; nāma as indicator of karma/function within prakriti’s governance under Īśvara.

Application: Adopt patience and steadiness in periods of delay; interpret slowness as a call to discipline and long-term responsibility rather than despair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29 (graha identifications; transition from Budha/Uṣā to Śanaiścara)

Characters & Entities

• Śanaiścara (Saturn)
• Pṛthivī (Earth principle)
• Uṣā

FAQs

What is the importance of Śanaiścara (Saturn) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse explains the name Śanaiścara as “slow-moving,” linking Saturn’s nature to steady, gradual movement and (by implication) karmic results that mature with time.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports a karmic framework: results unfold in measured time, mirroring how the soul’s experiences and consequences are not always immediate but ripen gradually.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate patience and disciplined conduct—especially during delays and hardships—treating slow outcomes as part of karmic maturation rather than as randomness.