Shloka 6

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

Draupadī/Kṛṣṇā

Devanagari script

हावं भावं विलासं च दर्शयामासुरञ्जसा / दृष्ट्वा ता उद्धता ब्रह्मा शशाप खगसत्तम

Transliteration

hāvaṃ bhāvaṃ vilāsaṃ ca darśayāmāsurañjasā / dṛṣṭvā tā uddhatā brahmā śaśāpa khagasattama

Translation

Họ công khai phô bày những cử chỉ lả lơi, những nét tình tứ và vẻ duyên chơi đùa. Thấy các nàng sinh lòng kiêu mạn, Brahmā liền giáng lời nguyền—hỡi bậc tối thắng trong loài chim.

Word by Word

• हावम्: coquetry/gesture
• हावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भावम्: expression/mood
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विलासम्: playful charm
• विलासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• दर्शयामासुः: they displayed/showed
• दर्शयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• अञ्जसा: openly/straightforwardly
• अञ्जसा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अञ्जसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• ताः: them (f.)
• ताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• उद्धताः: arrogant/insolent
• उद्धताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्धत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शशाप: cursed
• शशाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• खग-सत्तम: O best of birds
• खग-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—खगानां सत्तमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahaṅkāra and impropriety in sacred/authoritative spaces generate immediate karmic consequence.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha through kāma mixed with māna (desire + pride); fall from higher states due to egoic display.

Application: Guard against performative vanity; align expression with context (deśa-kāla-pātra) to avoid self-created downfall.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: assembly/court of Brahmā

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.17.7 (human birth as consequence); Garuda Purana 3.17.8 (post-curse deception at Meru)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Apsaras (celestial maidens)
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights a recurring Purāṇic ethic: display and allure, when joined with arrogance (uddhatatā), disrupt dharma and invite corrective consequences (śāpa).

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Even in narrative sections, the text emphasizes inner discipline—pride and self-indulgent display are portrayed as causes of downfall, reinforcing the Purāṇa’s moral and karmic framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and restraint: avoid letting attention, beauty, status, or charisma become grounds for arrogance, and keep conduct aligned with responsibility and respect.