Shloka 68

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

अतिमित्रो ऽप्यमित्रश्च दूरमित्रो ऽजितस्तथा / ऋतश्च ऋतधर्ंमा च विहर्ता वरुणो (चमसो) ध्रुवः

Transliteration

atimitro 'pyamitraśca dūramitro 'jitastathā / ṛtaśca ṛtadharṃmā ca vihartā varuṇo (camaso) dhruvaḥ

Translation

祂是至亲之友，亦是不友之者；是远方之友，亦是不可征服者。祂即Ṛta（宇宙正序），亦为护持Ṛta者；分配业果者；婆楼那（Varuṇa）；以及坚住不移的德鲁瓦（Dhruva）。

Word by Word

• अतिमित्रः: one who is an extreme/very friend
• अतिमित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अति + मित्र)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• अमित्रः: enemy
• अमित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• दूरमित्रः: a distant friend
• दूरमित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (दूरः मित्रः)

• अजितः: the unconquered one
• अजितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Discourse/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ऋतः: Ṛta (cosmic order/truth)
• ऋतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• ऋतधर्मा: one whose dharma is ṛta (truth/order)
• ऋतधर्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऋतस्य धर्मः)

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

• विहर्ता: the sporter/one who plays; remover
• विहर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु) → विहर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक, कर्तृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चमसः: Camas(a) (name)
• चमसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (पाठान्तर/कोष्ठकस्थ)

• ध्रुवः: the fixed/steadfast one
• ध्रुवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The One Lord appears as opposites and as the moral-cosmic regulator (Ṛta), dispensing karmic fruits while remaining unconquered and steady.

Vedantic Theme: Non-dual/antaryāmin vision: the same Brahman/Īśvara pervades and governs all functions (order, judgment, stability).

Application: Contemplate divine presence in both favorable and adverse relations; align conduct with ṛta/dharma, trusting karmaphala-niyati.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6 (nāma/cosmic-form enumeration context)

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Dhruva
• Ṛta

FAQs

What is the importance of ṛta (cosmic order) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the Divine as Ṛta itself and as Ṛtadharmā, teaching that moral law and cosmic order are ultimately grounded in the Supreme, not merely social convention.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By calling the Divine “vihartā” (dispenser), it implies that the soul’s experiences are governed by an ordered moral causality—karma operates under a higher cosmic law (ṛta).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in alignment with truth and duty (ṛta/dharma), remembering that outcomes are dispensed according to a larger moral order—encouraging ethical conduct and self-restraint.