Shloka 9

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच / कथं रुद्रं सुरैः सार्धमब्रवीद्वै हरिः पुरा / पुराणं गारुडं सारं ब्रूहि ब्रह्मन्महार्थकम्

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca / kathaṃ rudraṃ suraiḥ sārdhamabravīdvai hariḥ purā / purāṇaṃ gāruḍaṃ sāraṃ brūhi brahmanmahārthakam

Translation

วยาสกล่าวว่า “ในกาลก่อน พระหริทรงตรัสกับพระรุทระพร้อมด้วยเหล่าเทพอย่างไร? ข้าแต่พราหมณ์ โปรดตรัสแก่นแห่งคารุฑปุราณะอันมีความหมายยิ่งใหญ่แก่ข้าพเจ้าเถิด”

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (how)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सुरैः: with the gods
• सुरैः: Sahakari/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (together with)

• अब्रवीत्: said/told
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गारुडम्: Gāruḍa
• गारुडम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• महा: great
• महा: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; ‘महा’ = महान् (great)

• अर्थकम्: highly meaningful
• अर्थकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अर्थक’ = अर्थयुक्त (meaningful)

Speaker

Vyasa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inquiry into origins of revelation; seeking the ‘mahārthaka’ (great-meaning) essence rather than peripheral narrative.

Vedantic Theme: Tattva-jijñāsā; prioritizing essential meaning (sāra) as a method of discernment (viveka).

Application: When learning complex traditions, ask about first principles, sources, and the central takeaway that guides life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.10 (Brahmā narrates Kailāsa encounter)

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of asking for the 'sāra' (essence) of the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames the text as a distilled, high-value teaching—requesting the Purāṇa’s essential message rather than scattered details, indicating its role as a concentrated guide to profound spiritual meaning.

How does this verse set the narrative context of the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It introduces an inquiry into an ancient discourse where Viṣṇu addressed Rudra along with the Devas, signaling that what follows is rooted in a divine conversation and preserved as authoritative Purāṇic teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred texts by seeking their core ethical and spiritual principles—living with dharma and clarity—rather than treating them as mere stories or isolated rituals.