Shloka 21

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

दुगस्त्रिकूटः परिखा समुद्रो रक्षांसि योधाः परमा च वृत्तिः / शास्त्रञ्च वै तूशनसा प्रदिष्टं स रावणः कालवशाद्विनष्टः

Transliteration

dugastrikūṭaḥ parikhā samudro rakṣāṃsi yodhāḥ paramā ca vṛttiḥ / śāstrañca vai tūśanasā pradiṣṭaṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ kālavaśādvinaṣṭaḥ

Translation

纵然其防御森严——以特里库塔为城堡，以大海为壕堑，以罗刹为战士，并具至上的治国权谋；又纵然拥有由舒克罗（乌沙那）所授的教诲与谋略——那罗波那仍然灭亡，终被时轮之力所摧折。

Word by Word

• दुगः: fortress
• दुगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (पाठभेद: दुगः/दुर्गः)

• त्रिकूटः: Trikuta (three-peaked mountain)
• त्रिकूटः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + कूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयः कूटाः यस्य/त्रिकूटः)

• परिखा: moat
• परिखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समुद्रः: ocean
• समुद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्षांसि: demons; rakshasas
• रक्षांसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• योधाः: warriors
• योधाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परमा: supreme; excellent
• परमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वृत्तेः)

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

• वृत्तिः: conduct; way of life; provision
• वृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शास्त्रम्: teaching; treatise; instruction
• शास्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• तूशनसा: by Ushanas (Shukra)
• तूशनसा: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूशनस्/उशनस् (प्रातिपदिक; शुक्राचार्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रदिष्टम्: taught; instructed
• प्रदिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √दिश् (धातु) → प्रदिष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; शास्त्रस्य विशेषण

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कालवशात्: due to the power of time
• कालवशात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य वशः)

• विनष्टः: perished; was destroyed
• विनष्टः: Kriya (Result state/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √नश् (धातु) → विनष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे (perished)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even supreme fortifications, armies, and expert counsel (Śukra’s nīti/śāstra) cannot prevent destruction when Time (kāla) ripens the destined fall.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as an aspect of Bhagavān’s governance; worldly upāyas (policy, power) are limited; pride (ahaṅkāra) collapses under time and karma.

Application: Use power and knowledge with humility; prioritize dharma over mere strategy; remember contingency and mortality in leadership and personal ambition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: fortress/island stronghold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: exempla showing that strength/wealth cannot avert karma and kāla (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Trikuta
• Samudra (Ocean)
• Rakshasas
• Ushanas (Shukra)
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kala (Time) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that Kala ultimately overrules worldly power—fortresses, armies, and even advanced counsel—so one should prioritize dharma and right conduct over pride in strength.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing the inevitability of destruction under Time, it frames human life as transient and urges preparation through dharma and karmic purity—key themes underlying the Purana’s afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not rely solely on status, security, or cleverness; cultivate ethical living, humility, and spiritual discipline, remembering that time and consequences eventually mature for everyone.