Shloka 45

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

बृहस्पतिर्देवागुरुर्महात्मा तस्यावतारास्त्रय आसन् खगेन्द्र / रामावतारे भरताख्यो बभूव ह्यंभोजजावेशयुतो बृहस्पतिः

Transliteration

bṛhaspatirdevāgururmahātmā tasyāvatārāstraya āsan khagendra / rāmāvatāre bharatākhyo babhūva hyaṃbhojajāveśayuto bṛhaspatiḥ

Translation

بْرِهَسْپَتي، مُعلّمُ الآلهةِ ذو النفس العظيمة—يا ملكَ الطيور—كانت له ثلاثةُ تجسّدات. وفي التجسّد المتّصل براما عُرِف باسم «بهاراتا»؛ حقًّا إن بْرِهَسْپَتي كان مُتلبِّسًا بآڤيشا (الحضور الساكن) لبراهما المولود من اللوتس.

Word by Word

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva-guruḥ: teacher of the gods
• deva-guruḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां गुरुः)

• mahātmā: great-souled
• mahātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य/महानात्मा)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular; pronoun

• avatārāḥ: incarnations
• avatārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural (बहुवचन)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; numeral adjective

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

• khaga-indra: O lord of birds
• khaga-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् इन्द्रः)

• rāma-avatāre: in the incarnation of Rāma
• rāma-avatāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य अवतारे)

• bharata-ākhyaḥ: named Bharata
• bharata-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भरत-आख्यः = भरत इति आख्या यस्य)

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• ambhoja-ja-āveśa-yutaḥ: endowed with the influence/possession of the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• ambhoja-ja-āveśa-yutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक) + āveśa (प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अंभोजजस्य आवेशेन युतः = possessed of the possession/entry of the lotus-born)

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (re-stated)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine functionaries (like Bṛhaspati) may manifest through avatāra or āveśa to support dharma in major avatāra epochs; guru-tattva participates in cosmic restoration.

Vedantic Theme: Āveśa (empowered indwelling) as a mode of divine operation; līlā as coordinated descent of multiple powers for dharma-saṃsthāpana.

Application: Honor the role of true teachers in sustaining dharma; see guidance and wisdom as a sacred force that can 'descend' into human life through qualified persons.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.44 (dharma and divine portion theme)

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Devas
• Garuda (Khagendra)
• Rama
• Bharata
• Brahma (Ambhojaja)

FAQs

What is the importance of identifying Bṛhaspati’s avatāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links cosmic roles (Deva-guru Bṛhaspati) with Itihāsa-era figures (Bharata in the Rāma narrative), showing how divine intelligences manifest to uphold dharma across ages.

How does this verse explain āveśa (indwelling influence) in an incarnation?

It states that Bṛhaspati’s manifestation was ‘āveśa-yuta’ with the lotus-born Brahmā’s influence, indicating a special empowerment or indwelling of a higher principle within a manifested form.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat teachers and counselors as carriers of sacred responsibility: cultivate discernment, speak truthfully, and support dharma in family and society—qualities associated with Bṛhaspati’s guiding role.