Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

द्वितीयं तु भवायास्य रसातलगतां महीम् / उद्धरिष्यन्नुपादत्ते यज्ञेशः सौकरं वपुः

Transliteration

dvitīyaṃ tu bhavāyāsya rasātalagatāṃ mahīm / uddhariṣyannupādatte yajñeśaḥ saukaraṃ vapuḥ

Translation

Zweitens, zum Wohle dieser Welt, als die Erde in Rasātala versank, nahm der Herr des Opfers einen Eberleib an, um sie emporzuheben.

Word by Word

• द्वितीयम्: secondly
• द्वितीयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: ‘secondly’)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• भवाय: for the welfare/benefit
• भवाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दत्तिवाचक (for welfare/benefit)

• अस्य: of this (world)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रसातलगताम्: gone to Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलगताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; √गम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रसातले गता) कृदन्त-क्त (past participle) विशेषणम् ‘महीम्’

• महीम्: the Earth
• महीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उद्धरिष्यन्: intending to lift up
• उद्धरिष्यन्: Kriya (Participial/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-हृ (धातु) → उद्धरिष्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त भविष्यत्कालिक कृदन्त (future active participle): ‘about to lift up’

• उपादत्ते: assumes/takes up
• उपादत्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यज्ञेशः: Lord of sacrifices
• यज्ञेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञानाम् ईशः)

• सौकरम्: boar-like (of a boar)
• सौकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘वपुः’

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice describing Vishnu’s incarnation; commonly within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varāha avatāra: the Lord assumes a boar-form to lift the Earth for the welfare of beings; divine compassion expressed as decisive action.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as dharma-rakṣaka; līlā that restores cosmic order; the world upheld by the Supreme even when it ‘sinks’.

Application: When systems ‘sink’ (personal or social), act with courage and steadiness; invoke the Varāha ideal—practical rescue grounded in dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld (pātāla-loka)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (Varāha as second avatāra in this sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhūmi (Earth)
• Rasātala
• Varāha

FAQs

What is the importance of the Varāha (boar) incarnation in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse highlights Viṣṇu as Yajñeśa who takes the Varāha form to rescue the Earth from Rasātala, illustrating divine intervention to restore cosmic order and protect dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

Indirectly, it sets the Purāṇic cosmology (regions like Rasātala) that later supports afterlife teachings—showing that the universe has layered realms where beings may move according to karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate responsibility for protecting life and order (dharma): act to “lift up” what has fallen—through ethical conduct, service, and devotion to the sustaining principle represented by Viṣṇu.