Shloka 10

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

ततो रामो भविष्णुश्च चतुर्धा दुष्टर्मदनः / पुत्रो दशरथाज्जज्ञे रामश्च भरतो ऽनुजः

Transliteration

tato rāmo bhaviṣṇuśca caturdhā duṣṭarmadanaḥ / putro daśarathājjajñe rāmaśca bharato 'nujaḥ

Translation

ثم إنَّ راما—وهو فيشنو نفسُه، قاهرُ الأشرار—تجلّى في أربع صور، وولدَ ابنًا لداشاراثا؛ وولدَ بهاراتا أخًا أصغر لراما.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-आधारित अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनुक्रम-बोधक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भविष्णुः: prosperous/flourishing
• भविष्णुः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; भू-धातोः ‘भविष्णु’ प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• चतुर्धा: in four ways/fourfold
• चतुर्धा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/प्रकार-बोधक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• दुष्टर्मदनः: crusher of the wicked
• दुष्टर्मदनः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट + मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘दुष्टानां मर्दनः’) विशेषण

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• दशरथात्: from Daśaratha
• दशरथात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• जज्ञे: was born
• जज्ञे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (Apposition/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनुजः: younger brother
• अनुजः: Karta (Apposition/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अनुज’ = कनिष्ठभ्राता

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu manifests to subdue adharma; the divine takes accessible form for the world’s welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā and avatāra-vāda: the Absolute engages in name-form without losing transcendence; dharma-restoration as compassionate governance of the cosmos.

Application: Cultivate devotion through remembrance of avatāra narratives; align personal conduct with dharma, trusting that protection accompanies righteous living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative arc on Rāma’s manifestation and subsequent deeds in the same adhyāya sequence

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vishnu
• Dasharatha
• Bharata

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu manifesting as Rama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Rāma as Vishnu’s purposeful descent to uphold dharma and restrain wickedness, grounding ethical order in divine incarnation.

How does this verse relate to the broader Garuda Purana teachings?

While much of the Garuda Purana focuses on dharma, karma, and post-death consequences, this verse anchors those teachings in the avatar principle—divine intervention to restore righteousness in the world.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat dharma as actionable: resist harmful conduct (duṣṭatā) and support righteous duty in family and society, taking Rāma as the model of disciplined ethical living.