Shloka 4

Brahmā’s Curse, Four Births, and the Dharma of Shared Embodiment

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

पुरा कृतयुगे वीन्द्र रुद्रभार्या च पार्वती / इन्द्रभार्या शची देवी यम भार्याच शामला

Transliteration

purā kṛtayuge vīndra rudrabhāryā ca pārvatī / indrabhāryā śacī devī yama bhāryāca śāmalā

Translation

Thuở xưa, trong thời Kṛta Yuga, hỡi bậc tối thắng trong loài chim (Garuda): Pārvatī là hiền thê của Rudra (Śiva); Śacī Devī là hiền thê của Indra; và Śāmalā là hiền thê của Yama.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• कृत-युगे: in the Kṛta Yuga
• कृत-युगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कृतं युगम् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः)

• वीन्द्र: O Vīndra
• वीन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• रुद्र-भार्या: Rudra's wife
• रुद्र-भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—रुद्रस्य भार्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• पार्वती: Pārvatī
• पार्वती: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इन्द्र-भार्या: Indra's wife
• इन्द्र-भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—इन्द्रस्य भार्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शची: Śacī
• शची: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यम: of Yama
• यम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (genitival relation; in compound sense), एकवचन (अव्यक्त-विभक्ति; समासपूर्वपद)

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• श्यामला: Śyāmalā
• श्यामला: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्यामला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic roles are stabilized through divine pairings; relational order mirrors dharmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-śakti sambandha (the functional pairing of deity and power within māyā)

Application: Contemplate role-dharma and relational responsibility; avoid destabilizing pride by remembering one’s place in the larger order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.5-8 (Uṣā/Aśvin narrative and Brahmā’s curse)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Parvati
• Indra
• Shachi
• Yama
• Shamala

FAQs

What is the importance of mentioning Yama’s wife (Śāmalā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse situates Yama within a broader divine household order, introducing associated deities as part of the Purana’s framework for discussing dharma, judgment, and the afterlife administration linked to Yama.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: by identifying Yama and his divine context, it prepares the narrative ground for later teachings on judgment, karmic consequences, and the soul’s post-death journey described under Yama’s jurisdiction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat afterlife teachings as grounded in dharma: cultivate ethical conduct and perform prescribed rites with reverence, remembering that karma and cosmic order (represented by Yama) are central themes in the Garuda Purana.