Shloka 17

Manvantara Catalog: Fourteen Manus, Their Sons, Saptarishis, Indras, Deva-Hosts, and the 18 Vidyās

Devanagari script

हरिणा कूर्मरूपेण हतो भीमरथो ऽसुरः / रैवतस्य मनोः पुत्रो महा प्राणश्च साधकः

Transliteration

hariṇā kūrmarūpeṇa hato bhīmaratho 'suraḥ / raivatasya manoḥ putro mahā prāṇaśca sādhakaḥ

Translation

في هيئة السلحفاة قتل هاري الأَسورا بهيمَرَثا. وهو ابن مانو رايفَتا، المسمّى مها-برانا، السادهَكا المُنجَز.

Word by Word

• हरिणा: by Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कूर्मरूपेण: in/with the form of a tortoise
• कूर्मरूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कूर्मस्य रूपम्)

• हतः: slain
• हतः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भीमरथः: Bhīmaratha
• भीमरथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• असुरः: the asura (demon)
• असुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य/अप्पोज़िशन (भीमरथः असुरः)

• रैवतस्य: of Raivata
• रैवतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• मनोः: of Manu
• मनोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

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

• महाप्राणः: great-souled / of great vitality
• महाप्राणः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् प्राणः यस्य/महाप्राणः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• साधकः: practitioner / accomplisher
• साधकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as per common Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari as avatara who destroys adharma; remembrance of divine deeds and names as sanctifying.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara’s līlā and anugraha: the Supreme assumes forms to restore dharma.

Application: Contemplate/recite avatara-kathā for courage and steadiness; align personal effort (sādhana) with dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Purva-khanda) avatara/nama-kathana passages around 1.87 (lists of divine beings and forms)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Kurma (tortoise incarnation/form)
• Bhīmaratha (asura)
• Raivata Manu
• Mahāprāṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s Kūrma (tortoise) form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Hari’s protective, dharma-preserving role, noting that even in a specific form like Kūrma he destroys adharma (here symbolized by the asura Bhīmaratha).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul as taught in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly address the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it situates Garuda Purana’s broader teaching within a dharmic framework where divine intervention removes demonic obstacles and supports righteous order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the verse as a reminder to uphold dharma consistently—confront harmful tendencies (inner ‘asuras’) through disciplined practice (sādhana) and ethical living.