Shloka 49

Devanagari script

नागानां नाशनार्थाय गरुडं भीमभीषणम् / पादौ पातालं संस्थौ च दिशः पक्षास्तु संश्रिताः

Transliteration

nāgānāṃ nāśanārthāya garuḍaṃ bhīmabhīṣaṇam / pādau pātālaṃ saṃsthau ca diśaḥ pakṣāstu saṃśritāḥ

Translation

เพื่อทำลายนาคทั้งหลาย พึงเพ่งครุฑผู้ดุร้ายน่าเกรงขาม—พระบาทตั้งมั่นในปาตาล และทิศทั้งหลายเป็นดังปีกที่อาศัยอยู่กับพระองค์।

Word by Word

• नागानाम्: of serpents
• नागानाम्: Sambandha (Relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम्; genitive plural masculine

• नाशनार्थाय: for the destruction (purpose)
• नाशनार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाशन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान), एकवचनम्; dative singular masculine; समासः: नाशनस्य अर्थः (purpose of destruction)

• गरुडम्: Garuḍa
• गरुडम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; accusative singular masculine

• भीमभीषणम्: terrible and frightening
• भीमभीषणम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (कर्मणि विशेषणम्) accusative singular masculine; द्वन्द्वः: भीमश्च भीषणश्च

• पादौ: (his) two feet
• पादौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता), द्विवचनम्; nominative dual masculine

• पातालम्: the netherworld
• पातालम्: Karma (Complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; accusative singular neuter (goal/complement)

• संस्थौ: placed/standing (in)
• संस्थौ: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; nominative dual masculine; पादौ-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थकः (conjunction)

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; nominative plural feminine

• पक्षाः: (his) wings
• पक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; nominative plural masculine

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (emphasis/contrast)

• संश्रिताः: are resorted to/are situated
• संश्रिताः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle) बहुवचन-प्रथमा; here used predicatively; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; agreeing with पक्षाः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protective contemplation of Garuḍa as nāga-nāśaka; cosmic body-mapping where directions become wings—symbolizing omnidirectional guardianship.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-devatā as embodiment of protective śakti; fear is met by aligning mind with a higher power (īśvara-āśraya).

Application: For fear of harm/poison/hostility: visualize Garuḍa spanning all directions; use as mental ‘digbandha’ before travel, sleep, or risky work.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld + cosmic directions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana praise of Garuḍa as viṣa-hara and nāga-śamana; adjacent verses continuing cosmic-body visualization

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Nāgas
• Pātāla
• Diśas (directions)

FAQs

What is the importance of Garuḍa’s cosmic form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Garuḍa as a vast, world-spanning power—feet rooted in Pātāla and wings identified with the directions—signifying divine protection that pervades all realms and removes hostile forces.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the cosmos as layered (including Pātāla and the directions), reminding the listener that spiritual journey and protection are not limited to one plane; divine guardianship extends across all regions of existence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate fearlessness and moral steadiness: the verse emphasizes aligning with protective dharma and seeking higher refuge when facing “serpent-like” inner poisons such as fear, envy, or harm.