Shloka 12

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणो वेदपारस्य गन्ता स्यान्नात्र संशयः / क्षत्त्रियो क्षत्त्रियस्यापि रक्षिता भवतीह च

Transliteration

brāhmaṇo vedapārasya gantā syānnātra saṃśayaḥ / kṣattriyo kṣattriyasyāpi rakṣitā bhavatīha ca

Translation

婆罗门将成为那已渡至吠陀彼岸者之引导者——对此毫无疑惑；而刹帝利在此世亦将成为护卫者，甚至能护持另一位刹帝利。

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वेदपारस्य: of Vedic mastery / of the far shore of the Veda
• वेदपारस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य पारः = the far shore/end of the Veda; i.e., mastery)

• गन्ता: one who goes/attains
• गन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) → गन्तृ (कृदन्त; तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्यय (agent noun)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्षत्त्रियः: a kṣatriya
• क्षत्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्षत्त्रियस्य: of a kṣatriya
• क्षत्त्रियस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• रक्षिता: protector
• रक्षिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु) → रक्षितृ (कृदन्त; तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्यय (agent noun)

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-dharma: Brāhmaṇa’s role as Veda-grounded guide; Kṣatriya’s role as protector—each fulfilling svadharma for societal stability.

Vedantic Theme: Svadharma as purifier of mind (citta-śuddhi) enabling higher pursuit; harmony of social duties as support for spiritual life.

Application: Honor competence-based guidance (teaching, counsel) and principled protection (justice, safety); perform one’s responsibilities with integrity and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: society/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dharma sections describing varṇa duties and social ethics (theme-level)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Veda

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇāśrama-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma as complementary social functions: the Brāhmaṇa provides guidance grounded in Vedic mastery, while the Kṣatriya provides protection—together sustaining order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that right guidance (Vedic wisdom) and right protection (righteous governance) support dharmic living, which the Garuda Purana presents as crucial for one’s post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek authentic spiritual instruction from qualified teachers and uphold protective responsibility in society—using knowledge for guidance and power for safeguarding others.