Shloka 32

The Glory of Truthful Oaths and Keeping One’s Promise

Satya & Pratijñā

Devanagari script

सत्यं तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शंखचक्रगदाधरः । आविर्बभूव सहसा चारुह्य गरुडं मुने

Transliteration

satyaṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ | āvirbabhūva sahasā cāruhya garuḍaṃ mune

Translation

ఆ సత్యవచనాన్ని విని శంఖచక్రగదాధరుడైన భగవానుడు—ఓ మునీ—గరుడారూఢుడై అకస్మాత్తుగా అవిర్భవించాడు.

Word by Word

• satyam: truth; true (indeed)
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); वाक्ये कर्मवत् प्रयोगः (as object/complement)

• tat-vacanam: that statement/word
• tat-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तस्य वचनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ: the bearer of conch, discus, and mace (Viṣṇu)
• śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—बहुव्रीहि (यस्य शंख-चक्र-गदाः सन्ति सः/यः तान् धरति), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• āviḥ: manifest; openly
• āviḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āviḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थः—प्रकटम् (manifestly)

• babhūva: appeared; became
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• āruhya: having mounted
• āruhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruh (धातु) + ā (उपसर्ग) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having mounted)

• garuḍam: Garuḍa
• garuḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual voice addressing a sage: mune)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्वचनं = तत् + वचनम् (त् + व → द्व); आविर्बभूव = आविः + बभूव (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ः + ब → र्ब)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu (Śaṃkhacakragadādhara)
• Garuḍa

FAQs

Who is referred to as “śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ” in this verse?

It is a standard epithet of Viṣṇu, identifying him by his emblems: the conch (śaṅkha), discus (cakra), and mace (gadā).

What is the theological emphasis of Viṣṇu appearing after hearing “truthful words”?

The verse highlights satya (truth) as spiritually potent—truthful speech and sincerity are portrayed as catalysts that draw divine presence and protection.

Why is Garuḍa mentioned here?

Garuḍa is Viṣṇu’s vāhana (mount). Mentioning Viṣṇu mounting Garuḍa signals swift divine intervention and the readiness to act in response to the situation.