Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

यदुच्छ्रितौ योजनानि जस्तद्द्विगुणायतः / कूर्मस्त्रियोजनोत्सोधा शतयोजनवमडलः

Transliteration

yaducchritau yojanāni jastaddviguṇāyataḥ / kūrmastriyojanotsodhā śatayojanavamaḍalaḥ

Translation

Hễ chiều cao được đo bao nhiêu yojana thì chiều dài được nói là gấp đôi như thế. Kūrma—Rùa vũ trụ—cao ba yojana, và vòng chu vi rộng của nó đo được một trăm yojana.

Word by Word

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, यथासम्भवम् द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• उच्छ्रितौ: (two) raised/high
• उच्छ्रितौ: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छ्रित (कृदन्त; उद्+√श्रि (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; 'raised/lofty'

• योजनानि: yojanas (units)
• योजनानि: Karma (Measure/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; मापन-शब्दः

• यः: which (one)
• यः: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पाठे 'जस्' इति दूषितपाठसम्भवः—अत्र 'यः' (who/which) इति ग्रहणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative

• द्विगुण: double
• द्विगुण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वयोः गुणः = double)

• आयतः: extended/long
• आयतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'extended/long'

• कूर्म: the tortoise
• कूर्म: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• त्रि-योजन-उत्सेधः: having a height of three yojanas
• त्रि-योजन-उत्सेधः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + योजन + उत्सेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रीणि योजनानि उत्सेधः यस्य)

• शत-योजन-व-मण्डलः: with an extent/circle of a hundred yojanas
• शत-योजन-व-मण्डलः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + योजन + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक; पाठे 'व' दूषित/अर्थहीन-सम्भवः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शतयोजनं मण्डलं यस्य = circumference/extent of 100 yojanas)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order is intelligible through measure and proportion; the universe is structured, not random.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as niyati/ṛta-ordered appearance; contemplation of cosmic form (viśvarūpa/cosmography) as a support for viveka and śānti.

Application: Use contemplative study (svādhyāya) of cosmology as a meditative aid—cultivating humility and perspective beyond personal concerns.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic foundation/support

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmographic descriptions (general); Garuda Purana: Kūrma/adhāra motifs (general)

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma

FAQs

What is the importance of Kūrma in Garuda Purana cosmology?

This verse treats Kūrma as a cosmic support-figure and gives its proportions, indicating that the Purana maps the universe with specific, tradition-based measurements rather than only symbolic descriptions.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s larger teaching?

In the broader narrative, Vishnu instructs Garuda on the structure of the cosmos; such measurements situate later discussions (including realms, paths, and karmic outcomes) within an ordered, layered universe.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study scripture with both devotion and precision—Puranic teachings often blend spiritual meaning with systematic descriptions, encouraging disciplined learning and humility about the vastness of creation.