Shloka 5

Harivaṁśa-saṅkṣepa: Kṛṣṇa’s Avatāra Deeds, Dynastic Continuity, and Post-departure Succession

Devanagari script

रक्षणायार्जुनादेश्च ह्यरिष्टादिर्निपातितः / केशी विनिहतो दैत्यो गोपाद्याः परितोषिताः

Transliteration

rakṣaṇāyārjunādeśca hyariṣṭādirnipātitaḥ / keśī vinihato daityo gopādyāḥ paritoṣitāḥ

Translation

حفاظت کے لیے اور ارجن کے حکم پر اَریشٹ وغیرہ کو گرا دیا گیا؛ کیشی دیو بھی ہلاک ہوا، اور گوالے وغیرہ سب نہایت خوش ہوئے۔

Word by Word

• रक्षणाय: for protection
• रक्षणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; √रक्ष् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘रक्षण’ (protection) + -आय (for the sake of)

• अर्जुनादेशात्: from/at Arjuna’s command
• अर्जुनादेशात्: Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन-आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: अर्जुनस्य आदेशः (Arjuna's command)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अरिष्टादिः: Ariṣṭa and others
• अरिष्टादिः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिष्ट-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: अरिष्टः आदिः यस्य/यत्र (Arishta and others)

• निपातितः: was felled/slain
• निपातितः: Karma (Predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु) + नि + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (was made to fall/was slain)

• केशी: Keśī
• केशी: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनिहतः: was slain
• विनिहतः: Karma (Predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु) + वि + नि + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘slain’

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karma (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; केशी-विशेषणम् (apposition)

• गोपाद्याः: the cowherds and others
• गोपाद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप-आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: गोपाः आद्याः येषाम् (the cowherds and others)

• परितोषिताः: were delighted
• परितोषिताः: Karta (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तुष् (धातु) + परि + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘were pleased/satisfied’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhagavān protects devotees and restores dharma by removing hostile forces.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) and līlā as the mode of cosmic governance.

Application: Cultivate refuge in Hari during adversity; support and protect the vulnerable (community, dependents) as a dharmic reflection of divine protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral settlement/forest-grazing lands

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.144 (Krishna’s exploits and lineage context)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Ariṣṭa
• Keśī
• Daitya
• Gopas

FAQs

What is the importance of divine protection in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that when protection of the righteous is required, divine power removes hostile forces (Ariṣṭa, Keśī), restoring safety and confidence to the community (the gopas).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purana’s moral frame: dharma is safeguarded and adharma is checked; this ethical order is the foundation for the later teachings on karma and post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Align actions with dharma and protect the vulnerable; the verse encourages courage, community welfare, and faith that destructive tendencies (inner or outer) can be overcome through righteous effort and devotion.