Shloka 16

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

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

Devanagari script

नन्दिघोषं रथं दिव्यमग्नेर्घनुरनुत्तमम् / गाण्डीवं नाम तद्दिव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् / अक्षयान्सायकांश्चैव तथाभेद्यञ्च दंशनम्

Transliteration

nandighoṣaṃ rathaṃ divyamagnerghanuranuttamam / gāṇḍīvaṃ nāma taddivyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam / akṣayānsāyakāṃścaiva tathābhedyañca daṃśanam

Translation

他拥有名为“难提瞿沙”（Nandighoṣa）的天车，又得火神阿耆尼（Agni）那无上神弓——名“甘狄婆”（Gāṇḍīva），闻名三界；并有取之不尽的箭矢与不可穿透的铠甲。

Word by Word

• नन्दिघोषम्: Nandighoṣa (name)
• नन्दिघोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिघोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (Appositional object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (नन्दिघोषम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रथम्)

• अग्नेः: of Agni
• अग्नेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (धनुः-शब्दः द्वितीयायामपि धनुः)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धनुः)

• गाण्डीवम्: Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; धनुषः नाम

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Naming particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable: by name)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्/गाण्डीवम्)

• त्रिषु: in the three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana (Qualifier of location/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (लोकेषु)

• लोकेषु: worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• विश्रुतम्: renowned
• विश्रुतम्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्/गाण्डीवम्)

• अक्षयान्: inexhaustible
• अक्षयान्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सायकान्)

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: indeed/just)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/also)

• अभेद्यम्: unbreakable/impervious
• अभेद्यम्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-भेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दंशनम्)

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

• दंशनम्: armor/coat of mail
• दंशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power becomes legitimate when received as sacred trust and used in alignment with dharma, not mere conquest.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) and the responsibility of agency; instruments are secondary to right intention.

Application: Treat skills/resources as entrusted gifts; cultivate restraint, training, and ethical purpose before deployment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145 (Agni satisfied; divine weapons motif)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Gāṇḍīva
• Nandighoṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of divine weapons like Gāṇḍīva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses renowned divine implements—Gāṇḍīva, inexhaustible arrows, and impenetrable armour—to indicate extraordinary protection and power sanctioned by the gods, reinforcing the authority of the figure being described.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is not directly about the soul’s post-death journey; it is descriptive, highlighting divine equipment and invincibility within the narrative context rather than afterlife doctrine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the imagery as a reminder to cultivate inner ‘armour’—discipline, ethical restraint, and steadiness—so one’s resolve becomes ‘impenetrable’ against fear and wrongdoing.