Shloka 3

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

तत्तपस्तापिता देवास्तद्वधार्थं हरिं गताः / शरणं हरिरूचे तान् भवितव्यं शिवात्मभैः

Transliteration

tattapastāpitā devāstadvadhārthaṃ hariṃ gatāḥ / śaraṇaṃ harirūce tān bhavitavyaṃ śivātmabhaiḥ

Translation

तत्तपस्तापिता देवास्तद्वधार्थं हरिं गताः। शरणं हरिरूचे तान् भवितव्यं शिवात्मभैः॥

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Deictic qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; here deictic ‘that’ qualifying तपः

• तपः: penance
• तपः: Karta (Cause/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• तापिताः: tormented/afflicted
• तापिताः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; agrees with देवाः

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karman-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; deictic qualifying वध

• वधार्थम्: for (his) slaying
• वधार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: वध-अर्थ = ‘for the purpose of killing’ (accusative of purpose)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karman (Object of ‘went to’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• गताः: went/having gone
• गताः: Kriya (Participial main predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; with देवाः: ‘having gone’

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karman (Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; object/complement with verb of speaking: ‘(as) refuge’

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• ऊचे: said
• ऊचे: Kriya (Speech verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• तान्: to them/those (gods)
• तान्: Karman (Object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• भवितव्यम्: it must be (so)
• भवितव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विध्यर्थ/अनिवार्यता: ‘must be/has to happen’

• शिवात्मभिः: by those of Śiva-nature (Śiva-like beings)
• शिवात्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचनम्; समासः: शिव-आत्मन् = ‘those whose nature is Śiva’; instrument/agent in obligation statement

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice) reporting Hari’s reply

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati to Hari in times of cosmic distress; divine action may operate through complementary forms (Śiva-tattva) to restore balance.

Vedantic Theme: One reality functioning through multiple īśvara-aspects; coordination of divine powers for loka-saṃrakṣaṇa.

Application: When overwhelmed, seek refuge in the Divine and act in alignment with dharma; accept that solutions may come through unexpected channels and collaborations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial court (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82.2 (distress caused by tapas); Garuda Purana 1.82.4 (Śiva-pūjā context begins)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas (austerity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows tapas as a real cosmic force—so intense that it can distress even the devas and compel them to seek refuge in Hari for restoration of balance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames a key Garuḍa Purāṇa theme: actions and spiritual power (tapas/karma) produce inevitable results (bhavitavyam). The same inevitability underlies the soul’s post-death journey described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice austerity with dharmic intent and humility; spiritual discipline should purify, not inflate ego—otherwise it can become disruptive rather than liberating.