Shloka 29

Kālin̄dī’s Austerity; True Tapas and Prāyaścitta; Kṛṣṇa’s Grace and Marriage

Devanagari script

हे पार्थ शीघ्रं व्रज कन्यासमीपं त्वं पृच्छ कस्मादत्र तपः करोषि / एवं प्रोक्तस्तत्समीपं स गत्वा पृष्ट्वा चैतत्कारणं शीघ्रमेव

Transliteration

he pārtha śīghraṃ vraja kanyāsamīpaṃ tvaṃ pṛccha kasmādatra tapaḥ karoṣi / evaṃ proktastatsamīpaṃ sa gatvā pṛṣṭvā caitatkāraṇaṃ śīghrameva

Translation

हे पार्थ, शीघ्रं कन्यासमीपं व्रज; त्वं पृच्छ—कस्मादत्र तपः करोषि इति। एवं प्रोक्तः स तत्समीपं गत्वा, एतत्कारणं शीघ्रमेव अपृच्छत्॥

Word by Word

• he: O
• he: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he (अव्यय)
• Form: Vocative particle (सम्बोधन-निपात)

• pārtha: O Pārtha
• pārtha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण)

• vraja: go
• vraja: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• kanyā-samīpam: near the maiden
• kanyā-samīpam: Karma (कर्म/goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) ‘near the girl’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• pṛccha: ask
• pṛccha: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• kasmāt: from what cause/why
• kasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular; interrogative pronoun

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Locative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• karoṣi: you do
• karoṣi: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• proktaḥ: having been told
• proktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having been addressed/told’

• tat-samīpam: near her
• tat-samīpam: Karma (कर्म/goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) ‘near her/that’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriya (क्रिया/auxiliary action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) = having gone

• pṛṣṭvā: having asked
• pṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/auxiliary action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) = having asked

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• etat-kāraṇam: this reason
• etat-kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘this cause’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within Garuda Purana; dialogue-context not explicitly naming Vishnu/Garuda in this shloka)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Approach a tapasvinī with inquiry rather than intrusion; seek the cause (kāraṇa) behind religious practice before judging it.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) and śraddhā expressed through proper questioning; honoring tapas as a means to inner purification.

Application: When encountering unfamiliar spiritual practice, ask respectfully and learn the intention; cultivate promptness in dharmic duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river tīra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.21.28–32 narrative continuity: command → inquiry → report → marriage/boon rationale

Characters & Entities

• Pārtha
• Kanyā (maiden)

FAQs

What is the importance of asking the reason for tapas in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights discernment (viveka): austerity is not treated as automatic virtue; its purpose and motive should be understood before judging or following it.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and karmic results discussed in Garuda Purana?

In the broader Preta Kanda style of instruction, understanding “why” a practice is done connects actions (karma) to outcomes; tapas is meaningful when linked to a specific dharmic aim and intended fruit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before adopting any spiritual discipline—fasts, vows, or rituals—clarify the intention, the ethical basis, and the expected transformation, rather than imitating practices blindly.