Shloka 18

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

नृपान्दिग्विजये जित्वा रत्नान्यादाय वै ददौ / युधिष्ठिराय महते भ्रात्रे नीतिविदे मुदा

Transliteration

nṛpāndigvijaye jitvā ratnānyādāya vai dadau / yudhiṣṭhirāya mahate bhrātre nītivide mudā

Translation

ครั้นพิชิตกษัตริย์ทั้งหลายในการพิชิตทิศแล้ว เขาได้นำรัตนะมาทั้งปวง และด้วยความปีติได้ถวายแด่ยุธิษฐิระ ผู้เป็นพี่ใหญ่ ผู้รู้ธรรมและหลักรัฐนิติ

Word by Word

• नृपान्: kings
• नृपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दिग्विजये: in the conquest of the quarters (campaign)
• दिग्विजये: Adhikarana (Context/location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—दिशां विजयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having conquered)

• रत्नानि: gems/treasures
• रत्नानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु) → आदाय (ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (ल्यप्/तुमुन्-समकक्ष), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having taken)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• युधिष्ठिराय: to Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• महते: great
• महते: Sampradana (Qualifier/सम्प्रदान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भ्रात्रे/युधिष्ठिराय)

• भ्रात्रे: to (his) brother
• भ्रात्रे: Sampradana (Recipient/apposition/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; युधिष्ठिरस्य अप्पोजिशन

• नीतिविदे: to the knower of polity
• नीतिविदे: Sampradana (Qualifier/सम्प्रदान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) → विद् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक: विद्/विद्वस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः—नीतिं वेत्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषणम् (युधिष्ठिराय/भ्रात्रे)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘with joy’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra, contextual attribution)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth gained through sanctioned duty should be offered to rightful authority for dharmic ends; joy in giving purifies conquest.

Vedantic Theme: Tyāga (relinquishment) within action; transforming artha into dharma-oriented stewardship.

Application: Redirect gains (profit, recognition) toward collective good—family, community, ethical institutions—rather than personal hoarding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: campaign routes and royal court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.15–18 (Rājasūya preparation via digvijaya and tribute)

Characters & Entities

• Yudhisthira

FAQs

What is the importance of nīti (righteous statecraft) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights nīti as a dharmic standard for leadership—Yudhiṣṭhira is praised as “nītivid,” implying that power and wealth should be aligned with righteousness and entrusted to virtuous authority.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it emphasizes dharma in worldly conduct—ethical governance and rightful use of wealth—which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational to auspicious karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use success and resources responsibly: dedicate gains to righteous purposes, support ethical leadership, and keep joy rooted in dharma rather than mere acquisition.