Shloka 118

Devanagari script

शेषवद्वदनं तस्य तस्मिंश्चक्रद्वयं स्मृतम् / फलं तमेकचक्रेण संयुतं वल्मिकान्वितम्

Transliteration

śeṣavadvadanaṃ tasya tasmiṃścakradvayaṃ smṛtam / phalaṃ tamekacakreṇa saṃyutaṃ valmikānvitam

Translation

اس کا منہ شیش ناگ کی مانند کہا گیا ہے، اور اس پر دو چکر بیان کیے گئے ہیں۔ وہ پھل ایک ہی چکر سے جڑا ہوا اور وَلْمیک (چیونٹی کا ٹیلہ) کے نشان سے مزین ہے۔

Word by Word

• शेषवत्: like Śeṣa
• शेषवत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेषवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग/तुल्योपमा; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-विशेषणवत् (वदनम् प्रति)

• वदनम्: face/mouth
• वदनम्: विषय/वर्ण्य (Described item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• तस्य: of it/of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• चक्रद्वयम्: a pair of wheels/discs
• चक्रद्वयम्: विषय/वर्ण्य (Described item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र-द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (द्वे चक्रे)

• स्मृतम्: is said/remembered
• स्मृतम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: विषय/वर्ण्य (Described item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (refers to fruit/form)

• एकचक्रेण: with one wheel/disc
• एकचक्रेण: करण (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; द्विगु (एकं चक्रम्)

• संयुतम्: joined/connected
• संयुतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with तम्/फलम्

• वल्मिकान्वितम्: accompanied by an anthill
• वल्मिकान्वितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वल्मिक-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with फलम्; तत्पुरुष (वल्मिकेन अन्वितम् = accompanied by an anthill)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Esoteric iconography of the subtle form: Śeṣa-like mouth, wheels (cakra), and anthill mark as signs of latent power and cosmic structure.

Vedantic Theme: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: the individual’s subtle constitution mirrors cosmic principles (Śeṣa, cakra).

Application: Approach symbolic descriptions as meditative supports: contemplate stability (Śeṣa), cyclicity (cakra), and latent potency (valmīka/anthill) as inner disciplines—steadiness, regulated practice, and patience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: symbolic body-map / yantric iconography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.117 (parama-loka attainment); Garuda Purana 3.26.119-121 (śeṣa-mūrti types; chakra progression)

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śeṣa-like imagery in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses Śeṣa as a benchmark for a powerful, serpentine form, indicating a formidable, otherworldly feature within the Purana’s descriptive cosmology.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader depictions of subtle realms?

By describing unusual forms—wheels, a Śeṣa-like mouth, and an anthill mark—the text signals that the narrative is mapping symbolic and non-ordinary realities rather than everyday physical geography.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat scriptural imagery as guidance for contemplation: reflect on impermanence and cosmic order, and align daily conduct with dharma rather than getting lost in literalism.