Shloka 22

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

वटारोहिणवृक्षस्य योजनानां शतायुता / शाखा भिन्ना त्वया यत्र वालखिल्याः समास्थिताः

Transliteration

vaṭārohiṇavṛkṣasya yojanānāṃ śatāyutā / śākhā bhinnā tvayā yatra vālakhilyāḥ samāsthitāḥ

Translation

ณต้นไทรชื่อวฏาโรหิณะ ซึ่งแผ่กว้างถึงหลายร้อยยชนะ ตรงที่ท่านเคยหักกิ่งหนึ่งนั้นเอง เหล่าฤๅษีวาลขิลยะได้นั่งสถิตอยู่।

Word by Word

• वट-आरोहिण-वृक्षस्य: of the banyan-climbing tree
• वट-आरोहिण-वृक्षस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट + आरोहिण + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वटस्य आरोहिणः वृक्षः)

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: Sambandha (Measure relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; measure-genitive

• शत-आयुता: amounting to a hundred ayutas (very many)
• शत-आयुता: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शतेन आयुता = consisting of a hundred ayutas/ten-thousands; i.e., very many)

• शाखा: a branch
• शाखा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भिन्ना: broken
• भिन्ना: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'broken/split'

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental 'by you'

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative locative adverb: where)

• वालखिल्याः: the Vālakhilya sages
• वालखिल्याः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ऋषिगण-नाम

• समास्थिताः: were stationed/standing
• समास्थिताः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समास्थित (कृदन्त; सम्+आ+√स्था (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'having taken position/standing'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the mighty must act with care around the spiritually powerful; disrespect or negligence toward ṛṣis brings consequences.

Vedantic Theme: Tejas of tapas as real power; humility (amānitva) before spiritual attainment; the subtle outweighs the gross.

Application: Practice reverence toward teachers/elders; be mindful that small beings/voices may carry great value; avoid careless harm in shared spaces.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: sacred tree/cosmic landmark

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: references to Vālakhilya sages and episodes involving Garuḍa’s strength vs ṛṣi-tejas (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vaṭārohiṇa (banyan tree)
• Vālakhilya sages
• Garuda (implied: 'by you')

FAQs

What is the importance of the Vaṭārohiṇa banyan tree in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the immense Vaṭārohiṇa tree as a cosmic-scale setting to recall a specific incident involving Garuda, grounding the teaching in memorable Purāṇic geography and sacred narrative.

How does this verse relate to the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue in the Garuda Purana?

The line addresses Garuda directly (“by you”), indicating Vishnu is recounting an earlier episode to Garuda as part of an ongoing instruction framed through well-known mythic events.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ascetics, sages, and places of spiritual practice with care and humility—power should be restrained so it does not harm those engaged in tapas (austerity) and sacred pursuits.