Shloka 30

Maṅgalācaraṇa, the Sages’ Inquiry, and Hari as Supreme with an Avatāra-Outline

Devanagari script

नरदेवत्वमापन्नः सुरकार्यचिकीर्षया / समुद्रनिग्रहादीनि चक्रे कार्याण्यतः परम्

Transliteration

naradevatvamāpannaḥ surakāryacikīrṣayā / samudranigrahādīni cakre kāryāṇyataḥ param

Translation

متقمّصًا مقام «نَرَدِيفا»؛ أي الملك الإلهي بين البشر، وراغبًا في إنجاز عمل الآلهة، قام بعد ذلك بأعمال أخرى عظيمة، ككبح المحيط وما شابه.

Word by Word

• naradevatvam: the state of being a human king (divine among men)
• naradevatvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + devatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नराणां देवत्वम्’

• āpannaḥ: having assumed/attained
• āpannaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pad (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• surakāryacikīrṣayā: with the intention of accomplishing the gods’ tasks
• surakāryacikīrṣayā: Hetu/Karana (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + kārya + cikīrṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (हेतु/करण), एकवचन; ‘सुरकार्यस्य चिकीर्षा’ (desire to do the gods’ work)

• samudranigrahādīni: (deeds) such as restraining the ocean, etc.
• samudranigrahādīni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra + nigraha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘समुद्रनिग्रह-आदीनि’ = beginning with the restraint of the ocean

• cakre: did, performed
• cakre: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• kāryāṇi: tasks, works
• kāryāṇi: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ataḥ: thereafter, hence
• ataḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• param: further, afterwards
• param: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the opening dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ideal rulership serves cosmic welfare; divine purpose can operate through disciplined human action.

Vedantic Theme: Līlā through rāja-rūpa: the Lord assumes social roles to teach dharma and protect the world.

Application: Lead with service; undertake difficult infrastructure/justice tasks for collective good; align authority with ethical restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: capital city and seacoast

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (Rāma avatāra allusion: ocean restraint and further deeds)

Characters & Entities

• Devas (Suras)
• Ocean (Samudra)

FAQs

What is the importance of divine kingship (naradeva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the ideal king as a ‘divine’ agent on earth—one who upholds dharma and undertakes works that protect cosmic and social order, aligned with the aims of the Devas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes dharma in worldly life: righteous action and order-preserving duty are portrayed as sacred responsibilities, which in Garuda Purana’s broader framework support auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat leadership and responsibility as service: act for the common good, restrain harmful forces (symbolized by the ‘ocean’), and align personal ambition with ethical duty.