Shloka 9

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

भागीरथ्याश्च चत्वारि रूपाण्यासन्खगेश्वर / महाभिषग्जनेन्द्रस्य भार्या तु ह्यभिषेचनी

Transliteration

bhāgīrathyāśca catvāri rūpāṇyāsankhageśvara / mahābhiṣagjanendrasya bhāryā tu hyabhiṣecanī

Translation

噢，鸟中之主（迦楼罗），跋伽罗提（恒河）有四种形相；而“阿毗湿遮尼”乃“大医王”摩诃毗湿阇——诸医中之主——的妻子。

Word by Word

• bhāgīrathyāḥ: of Bhāgīrathī
• bhāgīrathyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgīrathī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Plural; numeral qualifying ‘rūpāṇi’

• rūpāṇi: forms
• rūpāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• khaga-īśvara: O lord of birds
• khaga-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular; ‘lord of birds’

• mahā-bhiṣag-jana-indrasya: of the chief among great physicians
• mahā-bhiṣag-jana-indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhiṣaj (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; ‘of the king among the people of great physicians’ (i.e., Dhanvantari/royal physician)

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adversative particle (तु)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• abhiṣecanī: Abhiṣecanī (name)
• abhiṣecanī: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiṣecanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; name/epithet

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-rūpa-bheda: a single sacred principle (Gaṅgā) manifests in multiple forms and relational identities across cosmic orders.

Vedantic Theme: Unity appearing as multiplicity (ekaṃ sat—bahudhā); conventional designations (nāma-rūpa) used for cosmological mapping.

Application: Use the teaching as a contemplative lens: see diverse expressions (roles, relations) as facets of one sacred reality; avoid rigid literalism while respecting purāṇic taxonomy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic genealogical frame

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.10-11 (enumeration of remaining forms)

Characters & Entities

• Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā)
• Garuda (Khageśvara)
• Mahābhiṣaj
• Abhiṣecanī

FAQs

What is the importance of Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā) having four forms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Gaṅgā as manifesting in multiple sacred aspects, supporting the Purāṇic idea that her presence and purifying power operate in more than one mode or realm.

How does this verse connect to purification or death-related rites discussed in the Garuda Purana?

By highlighting Bhāgīrathī’s revered status and manifold forms, the text reinforces why Gaṅgā-related acts (such as ritual bathing, offerings, or remembrance) are treated as potent for purification in broader Garuda Purana contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred waters and purification practices with reverence—maintain cleanliness, perform sincere prayer/ablutions, and approach ritual acts as ethical self-purification rather than mere formality.