Shloka 8

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

शेषः स एव विज्ञेयो भक्तो नारायणस्य च / विष्णोर्वायोरनन्तस्य त्रिभिरंशैर्युतः सदा

Transliteration

śeṣaḥ sa eva vijñeyo bhakto nārāyaṇasya ca / viṣṇorvāyoranantasya tribhiraṃśairyutaḥ sadā

Translation

当知舍沙（Śeṣa）确是那罗延那（Nārāyaṇa）的虔诚奉者；他恒常具足三分：毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）之分、风神伐由（Vāyu）之分，以及无尽者阿难多（Ananta）之分。

Word by Word

• śeṣaḥ: Śeṣa
• śeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; pronoun in apposition

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण निपात)

• vijñeyaḥ: is to be known
• vijñeyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा/धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/णीयत्; here -ya), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'to be known/should be understood'

• bhaktaḥ: devotee
• bhaktaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक; from √bhaj)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun

• nārāyaṇasya: of Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vāyoḥ: of Vāyu
• vāyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• anantasya: of Ananta
• anantasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tribhiḥ: with three
• tribhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective

• aṃśaiḥ: parts/portions
• aṃśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yutaḥ: endowed (with)
• yutaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युज्/धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'joined/endowed'

• sadā: always
• sadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śeṣa is foremost as Nārāyaṇa-bhakta; his powers are described as aṃśas of Viṣṇu, Vāyu, and Ananta—indicating functional participation while devotion remains central.

Vedantic Theme: Aṃśa–aṃśin relation; bhakta as instrument of Bhagavān; unity-in-difference within divine economy.

Application: Value devotion as identity: cultivate steadiness (śeṣa-like support) through service; recognize gifts as participations, not ego-possessions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narratives identifying Śeṣa/Ananta and his devotional role

Characters & Entities

• Śeṣa
• Nārāyaṇa
• Viṣṇu
• Vāyu
• Ananta

FAQs

What is the importance of Śeṣa (Ananta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śeṣa as a foremost devotee of Nārāyaṇa and describes him as bearing divine portions, highlighting his cosmic and devotional status.

How does this verse explain the identity of Śeṣa?

It identifies Śeṣa as inseparably connected to Nārāyaṇa through bhakti and as endowed with three aṃśas—linked to Viṣṇu, Vāyu, and Ananta—indicating layered divine power and function.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages devotion anchored in service (śeṣatva) to the Divine and reverence for disciplined strength—steadiness, life-force, and humility—as spiritual qualities to cultivate.