[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Purāṇas](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) › [Garuḍapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda) › [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt) › 3.19 # Garudapurana 3.19 English (machine translation) 3.19 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [3.19.75](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.75) — 1 part ### [3.19.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.1) Glorious Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa — 19 / Garuḍa said: / It was said by you, O Kṛṣṇa, O Govinda, that even by a hundredfold more than Rudra, / both Brahmāṇī and Bhāratī are superior, O best of gods. ### [3.19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.2) By me it was heard from Viriñca up to Umā / that they are deficient by infinite fractions; this was spoken by Viriñca, O Lord of the gods. ### [3.19.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.3) A deficiency by thousandfold fractions was spoken by you, O Kṛṣṇa, O Mādhava, / having considered all the preceding ones, O Hari, O all-pervading Lord. ### [3.19.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.4) Up to Vāyu in knowledge, bliss, strength, and the like, / a deficiency by thousandfold fractions of knowledge and the rest \[was spoken\], O Great Lord. ### [3.19.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.5) State the definitive conclusion, O Govinda; you are omniscient, there is no doubt. / Thus addressed by Garuḍa, Vāsudeva certainly spoke. ### [3.19.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.6) The Blessed Kṛṣṇa said: / Considering the deficiency by fractions of bliss, O King of Birds, / it is clear that this is so due to the combination of each higher and higher one. ### [3.19.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.7) When measured as a hundredfold, it is by virtue of manifestation in bliss, / and possessing infinite qualities was declared by Brahmā. ### [3.19.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.8) And being multiplied a thousandfold was declared by Vāyu; / as in bliss, so in knowledge, in devotion to Viṣṇu, and in superior strength. ### [3.19.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.9) All of them are indeed described in sequence as a hundredfold in qualities; / and Bhāratī has a hundredfold knowledge and happiness, superior in devotion and strength. ### [3.19.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.10) Thus the knowledge of Māruti, as well as his strength and so forth, is to be well understood; / thus a hundredfold knowledge is to be known in Māruti; of this there is no doubt. ### [3.19.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.11) And Bhāratī's knowledge and strength are declared to be a hundredfold; / and just so is Vāyu's knowledge, evidently so. ### [3.19.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.12) Just as a fire-flame, though a hundredfold greater than a lamp, does not become clear like a lamp, / and just as fire, even though abundant, does not become clear like the sun, ### [3.19.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.13) and just as the moon, though twice \[the size\] of the sun, would not become as bright— / and the hierarchy of bliss has thus been described by me to you, ### [3.19.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.14) know it just so, O bird, and by no means otherwise. / I know the qualities residing in me, endowed with all distinguishing characteristics, O King of Birds, ### [3.19.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.15) and their very subtle forms always, O King of Birds; there is nothing at all, nothing indeed, unseen by me. ### [3.19.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.16) Even Goddess Ramā knows Hari present in all incarnations. ### [3.19.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.17) She, the goddess, knows Hari's qualities endowed with all particularities, of unbroken form; / she, the goddess, knows their very subtle forms, through my grace more than Brahmā and the rest. ### [3.19.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.18) The goddess thoroughly knows her own essential nature, very subtle in form and endowed with fine particularities; / Lakṣmī likewise thoroughly knows the universe other than herself, endowed with all fine particularities. ### [3.19.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.19) Even Brahmā can see Vāsudeva who is all-pervading, and his good qualities superior to those of Vāyu and the rest; / but he does not know the ear and other very subtle forms of Hari's qualities endowed with particularities. ### [3.19.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.20) Just as the gods know in clear form, except for Brahmā, they, even liberated, do not \[know him\] thus; / Vidhi and Māruta always know oneself and the other endowed with particularities. ### [3.19.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.21) Vāṇī knows Hari's qualities, though not as many particularities as the Self-born; / she always sees Viṣṇu beyond the nature of the three guṇas in the form of Kṛṣṇa, O King of Birds. ### [3.19.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.22) Śeṣa, Rudra, and all those with them, O King of Birds, know him residing in subtle darkness alone; / they do not know the qualities with their particularities as seen by Vāṇī; the truth indeed has been spoken, dear one. ### [3.19.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.23) Umā, Suparṇā, and Vāruṇī—these three together know him well-established; / they do not know the particularities of Hari seen by Rudra, O King of Birds, in any place or time. ### [3.19.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.24) Indra and the others, O King of Birds, know Hari pervading the ego; / Dakṣa and the others, as well as the Moon, the Sun, and the rest, know him residing in the intellect-principle. ### [3.19.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.25) Those and others who always know Viṣṇu Hari residing in the elemental principle; / and others see Hari's form residing within the cosmic egg according to their own capacity, O King of Birds. ### [3.19.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.26) Some see Hari's form dwelling in your heart, some always in their own heart; / know it to be of this manner, O King of Birds; and now hear about these six wives of mine: ### [3.19.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.27) Rukmiṇī and the rest, my six chief queens, and Śrī and Nīlā who are my wives, O King of Birds— / in a former creation she was the daughter of Havyavāha; I enjoy them immediately with distinction. ### [3.19.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.28) Being only a maiden, she, the wife of Kṛṣṇa, enjoyed those desires pondered in her mind; / one among the ancestors, Kavyavāha, O King of Birds, always made great effort \[to wed her\]. ### [3.19.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.29) Even so, she never obtained a husband, because her mind was devoted solely to Kṛṣṇa. ### [3.19.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.30) Then Kavyavāha said to his daughter, 'Why do you not desire a husband, O dull-witted one?' / Then the daughter said to Kavyavāha: 'Except for Hari, who is endowed with all qualities, / in this birth there is no husbandhood \[for anyone\], O lord, because Hari alone is the husband. ### [3.19.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.31) Because in the world all virtuous women are always to be known as truly widows; / he who is beginningless, eternal, the sole essence of the world, exceedingly handsome, giver of liberation, and giver of desires— ### [3.19.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.32) those who do not know such a one are all truly widows forever; / a soul in the form of a husband is a mere secondary cause, subject to destiny, bereft of devotion to Hari, ### [3.19.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.33) full of filth, flowing through nine apertures, foul-smelling, and always vile; / for such an embodied husband, O father, there is no need, setting aside Kṛṣṇa. ### [3.19.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.34) Leaving aside their own husbands, the women of the gods always please him who resides there; / therefore they are always women whose husbands are living, worthy of worship by the worlds; there is no question about this. ### [3.19.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.35) If their husbands are devotees of Hari, the birth of these women has indeed borne fruit; / through the store of merit earned in many births their husbands become devotees of Hari. ### [3.19.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.36) If their husbands are not devotees of Hari, their own body must certainly be abandoned by them; / if, properly remembering Hari in the form of Kṛṣṇa who is their own husband, they abandon the body, ### [3.19.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.37) then the sins of suicide and the like do not attach to women; this is indeed the decision in the scripture; / if their husbands do not know Viṣṇu, association with them must never be formed. ### [3.19.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.38) From the store of merit earned in many births their husbands become devotees of Viṣṇu; / in the Kali age devotees of Viṣṇu are rare, and devotion to Hari is always rare. ### [3.19.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.39) A discourse on Hari is rare in the mortal world, initiation into Hari is rare, exceedingly rare, / a decisive conclusion on Hari's essential truth is indeed rare, and association with Hari's servants is rare. ### [3.19.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.40) Circumambulation of Murāri is rare indeed, and bowing to him is rare in the Kali age; / protection of his devotees is rare, and giving food to true Vaiṣṇavas is rare. ### [3.19.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.41) Worship of Murāri as taught in the Tantras is rare indeed, and uttering Viṣṇu's name is rare; / worship of good Vaiṣṇavas is indeed rare, and conversation with true Vaiṣṇavas is rare. ### [3.19.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.42) Touching a śālagrāma is rare, and sight of true Vaiṣṇavas is indeed rare; / touching a cow is rare in the mortal world, good singing is rare, and a true guru is rare. ### [3.19.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.43) Good wives and good sons are indeed rare, and the sight of Hari residing on Śeṣācala; / exceedingly rare is the sight of Raṅganātha on the bank of the Kāverī, the river born from Viṣṇu's foot. ### [3.19.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.44) In the sacred site of Kāñcī, service to Varadarāja and his vision are exceedingly rare in this world; / exceedingly rare is the sight of Rāma's bridge, and exceedingly rare is competence in the scripture of Madhva. ### [3.19.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.45) The noble say that the sight of Viṣṇu situated on the bank of the Bhīmā is exceedingly rare, / as is the sight of Viṣṇu situated on the bank of the Revā, and of Viṣṇu's footprint in the sacred site of Gayā. ### [3.19.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.46) Likewise, for those residing in the mortal world, \[the vision\] of Viṣṇu situated at Badarī is exceedingly rare; / and on Mount Śeṣa, in the hermitage of Śrīnivāsa, ascetics are rare in the mortal world. ### [3.19.47](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.47) In the place named Prayāga, the continuous sight of Mādhava is indeed rare for mortals. ### [3.19.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.48) "Therefore I do not desire any husband other than Kṛṣṇa at any time." / Having spoken thus to her father, she departed toward Mount Śeṣa. ### [3.19.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.49) At the great sacred bathing place named Kapilā, she ascended the great mountain. / Having seen and bowed to Śrīnivāsa residing there, the highly virtuous maiden, ### [3.19.50](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.50) having fasted for three days, then went to \[the tīrtha named\] Pāpavināśana. / Having bathed there, she then went to a solitary place for the sake of marriage. ### [3.19.51](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.51) In the northern direction from it, at a distance of two krośas, on a great plain, / in a hollow that was secluded, she performed supreme austerities. ### [3.19.52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.52) Meditating on God Nārāyaṇa, the young girl remained there. / At the end of a thousand divine years, she began to praise him. ### [3.19.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.53) The young girl said: / You alone are mother, and you alone are father; you alone are husband and friend. / You alone are son and the weightiest guru; you are my ally, sister, and beloved. ### [3.19.54](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.54) Even throughout beginningless and endless births, O Lord, though I reflect, I do not understand; / for all these fathers and others exist only by incidental cause, but you exist without any incidental cause. ### [3.19.55](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.55) Therefore, O Murāri, may I become your wife alone—this indeed was then my vow. / No accomplishment comes from union with mothers and others of bad association, O embodiment of generosity! ### [3.19.56](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.56) Cut off, O God, the sight of those who defame you, and of those who mock your foremost servants! / Cut off, O Viṣṇu, the sight of those who harm gurus; cut off, O Kṛṣṇa, friendship with those who harm devotees! ### [3.19.57](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.57) Cut off, O God, conversation with those who hate you; grant me union at your lotus feet! / Homage, homage to the dweller on Śrīśaila; homage, homage to you, Śrīnivāsa! ### [3.19.58](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.58) O Master of the higher and lower, Lord of Ramā, original cause embodied! Much time has passed without your sight. / And through spiritual means gathered in endless births, may there be the vision of you, four-armed one! ### [3.19.59](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.59) How could there be the sight of you for me, O Lord, who am thoroughly accompanied by all faults, / who am a recipient of servitude, a servant of your servants? Be gracious, O Lord of gods, abode of the universe! ### [3.19.60](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.60) Praised thus, Viṣṇu, Śrīnivāsa, the ocean of mercy, / Janārdana, the bestower of boons, appeared to her on account of her devotion. ### [3.19.61](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.61) "Choose a boon; may good fortune be yours; I have come here to grant a boon." / Hearing the word uttered by Hari, she whose face wore a smile spoke. ### [3.19.62](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.62) With supreme devotion she said to Śrīnivāsa, the Lord of the universe: / "Indeed, may I become your wife, O beautiful Mādhava!" ### [3.19.63](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.63) Having heard her speech, Śrīnivāsa spoke these words: / The Blessed Lord said: / "O fortunate girl, in my incarnation as Kṛṣṇa on the earth, ### [3.19.64](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.64) I shall become your husband; no doubt should be entertained here." / Thus addressed, the maiden, the daughter, spoke to Hari, the supreme heap of merit, ### [3.19.65](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.65) supremely pleased, with a voice stammering with joy. / The maiden said: / "In the incarnation as Kṛṣṇa, may I become your wife on the very first day! ### [3.19.66](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.66) And prior to the marriage rite, I choose \[you\] before all women." / Addressed with "So be it," Madhusūdana spoke again. ### [3.19.67](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.67) The Blessed Lord said: / "Because it was chosen by a maiden and because it is granted by me, O passionate woman, / the fulfilment of their heart's desires will come to pass, without a doubt." ### [3.19.68](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.68) Having granted her this boon, he vanished right there. / And having abandoned her body right there, that young maiden, the daughter, ### [3.19.69](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.69) was born in the house of Kumbhaka; she is known indeed by the name Nīlā. / And Kumbhaka, O fortunate one, was the brother-in-law of Nandaśobha. ### [3.19.70](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.70) He should be known as Kalpavāha, remembered as the first of the ancestors. / Going to the house of him who lived on Mount Vṛṣabha— / who was invincible, O best of birds, by the boon of Śiva— ### [3.19.71](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.71) and having slain the sons of Diti, Nīlā was obtained, O king of birds. / Then, a girl was born in the house of King Nāgnijita. ### [3.19.72](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.72) Nāgnijit became Kavyavāha, and the maiden was named Nīlā. / In her svayaṃvara, having bound seven bulls ### [3.19.73](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.73) that by a boon of Śiva could not be slain by gods or humans, / and having conquered the kings, Nīlā was obtained, O great bird. ### [3.19.74](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.74) Nīlā, the daughter of Kumbhaka, entered completely into \[the other's\] body; / since she \[proceeded\] from a single limb, therefore she entered right into her. ### [3.19.75](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.75) She was born twofold on earth as a maiden, without a doubt. / I shall declare the birth of Bhadrā; listen, O best among the lords of birds. ### [3.19.75.p1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19.75.p1) Thus ends the nineteenth chapter, named 'Determination of the Marriage of Nīlā', in the Brahmakāṇḍa, the third section of the Uttarakhaṇḍa in the glorious and great Garuḍa Purāṇa. ## Linked texts (1) - [Garuḍapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda.3.19.1) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.3.19) · Pramāṇa