Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

षष्ठमत्रेरपत्यत्वं दत्तः प्राप्तो ऽनसूयया / आन्वीक्षिकीमलर्काय प्रह्लादादिभ्य ऊचिवान्

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhamatrerapatyatvaṃ dattaḥ prāpto 'nasūyayā / ānvīkṣikīmalarkāya prahlādādibhya ūcivān

Translation

Als sechster Sohn Atris, durch Anasūyā erlangt, erschien Datta (Dattātreya). Er lehrte Alarka, Prahlāda und anderen die ānvīkṣikī, die Wissenschaft der Untersuchung und Unterscheidung.

Word by Word

• षष्ठम्: sixth
• षष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (ordinal)

• अत्रेः: of Atri
• अत्रेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपत्यत्वम्: the state of being a son/offspring
• अपत्यत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त भाववाचक (त्व)

• दत्तः: Datta (Dattātreya)
• दत्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (Dattātreya/Dattah)

• प्राप्तः: obtained/attained (came to be)
• प्राप्तः: Karta (Predicate to 'दत्तः')
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: obtained/attained/was born to

• अनसूयया: by Anasūyā
• अनसूयया: Karana/Agent-in-passive (Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• आन्वीक्षिकीम्: Ānvīkṣikī (logic/inquiry)
• आन्वीक्षिकीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्वीक्षिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अलर्काय: to Alarka
• अलर्काय: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• प्रह्लादादिभ्यः: to Prahlāda and others
• प्रह्लादादिभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रह्लादः आदिः येषां ते)

• ऊचिवान्: said/spoke
• ऊचिवान्: Kriya (Main action, periphrastic)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्तवत्-प्रत्यय (perfect active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: having said/one who said

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ānvīkṣikī—systematic inquiry/critical reflection as a means to discern truth and guide conduct; wisdom shared across social types (king Alarka, devotee Prahlāda).

Vedantic Theme: Reasoned inquiry supporting liberation: śravaṇa–manana style reflection; harmonizing devotion with discrimination.

Application: Cultivate disciplined questioning, examine assumptions, and integrate devotion/ethics with rational discernment in decision-making.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of jñāna and guru-upadeśa as supports to bhakti and dharma (recensional parallels)

Characters & Entities

• Atri
• Anasūyā
• Datta (Dattātreya)
• Alarka
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What is the importance of ānvīkṣikī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ānvīkṣikī as a respected spiritual-intellectual discipline taught by Dattātreya, indicating that discerning inquiry is integral to dharma and right understanding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting Dattātreya’s instruction in inquiry, it points to knowledge and discrimination as supports for right living—foundational for liberation-oriented understanding later discussed in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined inquiry—study, reflection, and ethical reasoning—so beliefs and rituals are grounded in understanding rather than habit.