Shloka 13

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

ततः पाञ्चालविषयेद्रौपद्यास्ते स्वयंवरम् / विज्ञाय वीर्यशुल्कान्तां पाण्डवा उपयेमिरे

Transliteration

tataḥ pāñcālaviṣayedraupadyāste svayaṃvaram / vijñāya vīryaśulkāntāṃ pāṇḍavā upayemire

Translation

随后在旁遮罗之地，般度婆得知黑公主（德劳帕迪）的自择婚（svayaṃvara）——以武勇为聘、以胜者得新娘——便启程前往。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘अनन्तरम्’

• पाञ्चालविषये: in the Pāñcāla region
• पाञ्चालविषये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल (प्रातिपदिक) + विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• द्रौपद्याः: of Draupadī
• द्रौपद्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वयंवरम्: the svayaṃvara (bride-choosing ceremony)
• स्वयंवरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• विज्ञाय: having learned/knowing
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — ‘विज्ञाय’

• वीर्यशुल्कान्ताम्: whose condition was valor as the stake
• वीर्यशुल्कान्ताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शुल्क (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्वयंवरम्) — ‘वीर्यं शुल्कं यस्याः/यस्य’ (with valor as the bride-price/condition)

• पाण्डवाः: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपयेमिरे: went/approached
• उपयेमिरे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Garuda Purana; not direct Vishnu–Garuda dialogue in this verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svayaṃvara as socially sanctioned choice and alliance; merit (vīrya) and worthiness tested publicly.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma operating through social institutions (vivāha-saṃskāra) that channel desire into order and responsibility.

Application: Approach relationships with commitment, competence, and respect for consent and social responsibility; let character and capability guide life-partnership decisions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/capital-city setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.9-12 (lead-up: identity, conflict, survival, protection)

Characters & Entities

• Pāñcālas
• Draupadī
• Pāṇḍavas

FAQs

What is the importance of the svayaṃvara (self-choice ceremony) mentioned here?

This verse highlights a dharmic social institution where marriage is linked to merit and capability; Draupadī’s svayaṃvara is specifically framed as being won by demonstrated prowess (vīrya-śulka).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s usual themes like afterlife and karma?

While not describing death rites or the soul’s journey, it uses an Itihāsa episode (Pandavas–Draupadī) as narrative material that can support broader Purāṇic instruction on dharma and rightful conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It underscores choosing commitments through proven competence and integrity—valuing merit, discipline, and dharmic action rather than mere claim or status.