Shloka 9

Ajāna Lineages, Divine Classes, Ṛṣi Catalogues, and the Merit of Śravaṇa-Smaraṇa

Devanagari script

उतथ्यश्च मुनिश्चैतान्द्राजपित्वा खगेश्वर / ऋषयश्च महात्मानो ह्यजानजसमाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

utathyaśca muniścaitāndrājapitvā khageśvara / ṛṣayaśca mahātmāno hyajānajasamāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

ข้าแต่คเฆศวร ฤษีอุตถยะได้กล่าวแจกแจงเรื่องเหล่านี้โดยสมควรแล้ว และเหล่ามหาฤษีผู้ยิ่งใหญ่เหล่านี้ถูกระลึกว่าเสมอด้วยอชานชะ

Word by Word

• उतथ्यः: Utathya
• उतथ्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उतथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• मुनिः: the sage (Muni)
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एतान्: these (persons)
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• राजपित्वा: fathers of kings
• राजपित्वा: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: राज्ञः पितरः (fathers of kings)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समास: खगानाम् ईश्वरः (lord of birds)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• महात्मानः: great-souled
• महात्मानः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: महान् आत्मा यस्य (महान्-आत्मा)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: 'indeed')

• अजानजसमाः: equal to Ajanaja
• अजानजसमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजानज + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अजानजस्य समाः

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are said
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि: 'are remembered/are said'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Paramparā and authoritative remembrance (smṛti) of great seers as equal to primordial sources; knowledge validated through lineage and realization.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-pramāṇa and guru-paramparā as supports for brahma-jñāna; mahātma-lakṣaṇa (great-souled qualities) as marker of realization.

Application: Honor authentic lineages of learning; verify teachings through consistent tradition and lived virtue; cultivate humility as a listener (śrotṛ-bhāva).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana didactic dialogues (speaker addressing Garuda) and lists of ṛṣis/mahātmans

Characters & Entities

• Utathya
• Rishis
• Garuda (Khageshvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of praising rishis and progenitor-like sages in the Garuda Purana?

This verse anchors authority in the tradition of great seers, presenting them as comparable to the earliest progenitors, thereby validating the teachings being transmitted to Garuda.

How does this verse fit the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue flow in the Garuda Purana?

Vishnu addresses Garuda directly (“Khageśvara”) while describing the stature of sages like Utathya, continuing a narrative that grounds later doctrinal teachings in venerable rishi authority.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat scriptural learning as a disciplined lineage: study from reliable sources, honor teachers, and apply teachings with humility—qualities associated with “mahātmā” seers.