Shloka 20

Dṛṣṭānta on Siddhi: Pitṛ-Procedure, Non-Delusion, and Vyākaraṇa Classifications

Devanagari script

शुक्लकीलालपाश्चैव शुचिश्च ग्रामणीः सुधीः / पटुः कमलभूः कर्ता सुमतो बहवः सुनौः

Transliteration

śuklakīlālapāścaiva śuciśca grāmaṇīḥ sudhīḥ / paṭuḥ kamalabhūḥ kartā sumato bahavaḥ sunauḥ

Translation

అతడు శ్వేతవర్ణుడూ అరుణ-కపిశవర్ణుడూ, శుచియైనవాడు, గ్రామణి, సుధీ. పటువు, కమలభవుడు, కర్త, సుమతిగలవాడు—ఇలా కుమారునకు అనేక గుణాలు చెప్పబడినవి।

Word by Word

• śuklaḥ: white, bright
• śuklaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival use)

• kīlālaḥ: sweet drink; syrup/juice
• kīlālaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīlāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• pāśca: and nooses/bonds
• pāśca: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ca (अव्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; 'ca' समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction) संलग्न

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• śuciḥ: pure, clean
• śuciḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• grāmaṇīḥ: village-leader, chief
• grāmaṇīḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sudhīḥ: wise, intelligent
• sudhīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sudhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• paṭuḥ: skilled, sharp
• paṭuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṭu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• kamalabhūḥ: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• kamalabhūḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kamalasya bhūḥ = lotus-born)

• kartā: doer, maker
• kartā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tṛ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sumataḥ: good-minded, well-disposed
• sumataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग) + mata (प्रातिपदिक; √man)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (su-mata = good-minded)

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• sunauḥ: good ship/boat (lit. good vessel)
• sunauḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (उ-कारान्त/औ-प्रत्ययान्त रूप)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-kīrtana: defining a person through auspicious qualities (śauca, medhā, netṛtva, kauśala, sumati) as markers of cultivated character.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa as a conducive basis for dharma and higher pursuit; emphasis on inner purity (śuci) reflected in conduct.

Application: Cultivate śauca (cleanliness), wise counsel, and skill in one’s duties; evaluate leadership by purity and discernment rather than status alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda) sections listing qualities/names and classificatory lists; nearby verses in 1.206 continue enumerations of categories.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (by epithet: Kamalabhū)

FAQs

What is the importance of virtues like purity and wisdom in the Garuda Purana?

This verse strings together core dharmic qualities—purity, leadership, skill, and good counsel—showing that spiritual merit is supported by ethical character and responsible conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it implies that cultivated virtues and right-minded action (kartā, sumataḥ) form the foundation that later determines one’s karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice inner and outer cleanliness (śuci), develop competence (paṭu), offer wise guidance (sumata), and lead responsibly (grāmaṇī) in family and society as part of daily dharma.