Shloka 48

रामायणकथासंक्षेपः — ब्रह्मोक्तो रामावतारवृत्तान्तः

Devanagari script

तत्र राज्यं चकाराथ पुत्त्रवत्पालयन्प्रजाः / दशाश्वमेधानाहृत्य गयाशिरसि पातनम्

Transliteration

tatra rājyaṃ cakārātha puttravatpālayanprajāḥ / daśāśvamedhānāhṛtya gayāśirasi pātanam

Translation

అక్కడ ఆయన రాజ్యాన్ని నిర్వహించి ప్రజలను తన పిల్లలవలె పరిరక్షించాడు. పది అశ్వమేధ యజ్ఞాలు చేసి, గయాశిరసులో విధిపూర్వకంగా (యజ్ఞసంబంధ) పాతనము/అర్పణము చేయించాడు।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• राज्यम्: kingdom/rule
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चकार: he performed/ruled
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक

• पुत्रवत्: like (his) sons
• पुत्रवत्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुत्र + वत् (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like a son)

• पालयन्: protecting
• पालयन्: Karta (Agent qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: protecting

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दशाश्वमेधान्: ten Aśvamedha sacrifices
• दशाश्वमेधान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: दश अश्वमेधाः

• आहृत्य: having brought/obtained
• आहृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), उपसर्ग: आ-; अर्थ: having brought/collected

• गयाशिरसि: at Gayāśiras (in Gayā)
• गयाशिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: गयायाः शिरसि (at Gayā-head/at Gayāśiras)

• पातनम्: offering/placing down (rite)
• पातनम्: Karma/Pradhana (Nominal action/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act of offering/causing to fall)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the Gayāśiras tīrtha, as part of pilgrimage-linked rites following major yajña/merit acts

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma: the king protects subjects like children; yajña and tīrtha acts sustain social-cosmic order and generate merit.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of the world) through dharmic action; karma purified by dedication to the divine order.

Application: Lead with care and accountability; support communal institutions and sacred/ethical observances that bind society together.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: city; tīrtha/headland (śiras)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.143.49 (piṇḍa and dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā (Gayāśiras)
• Aśvamedha
• King (implied ruler)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayāśiras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Gayāśiras as a sanctified site where major ritual offerings are formally deposited/performed, reinforcing Gayā’s reputation as a foremost place for śrāddha and merit-producing rites.

How does this verse connect kingship with dharma in the Garuda Purana?

It presents the ideal ruler as one who protects subjects like children and supports dharmic order through Vedic sacrifices, linking political authority to ethical guardianship and sacred duty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Lead with protective responsibility (family/community care) and perform duties with integrity; if following tradition, approach sacred rites (like śrāddha at Gayā) with sincerity rather than mere display.