Shloka 30

Devanagari script

(दशावतारो) दशभिरनिरुद्धो ऽवतादथ / (द्वादशात्मा) द्वादशबिरत ऊर्ध्व(मनन्तकः)

Transliteration

(daśāvatāro) daśabhiraniruddho 'vatādatha / (dvādaśātmā) dvādaśabirata ūrdhva(manantakaḥ)

Translation

May Aniruddha, manifest in ten forms—the ten avatāras—protect us; and may Anantaka, whose nature is twelvefold, protect us from above.

Word by Word

• दशावतारः: the one of ten avatāras (Daśāvatāra)
• दशावतारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दश अवताराः यस्य)

• दशभिः: by ten
• दशभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• अनिरुद्धः: Aniruddha
• अनिरुद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अवताद्: may (he) protect
• अवताद्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; पदान्त-त् (अवताद्)

• अथ: then, and
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (conjunctive/sequence particle)

• द्वादशात्मा: the twelve-formed one (Dvādāśātmā)
• द्वादशात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वादश आत्मानः यस्य / द्वादशरूपः)

• द्वादशभिः: by twelve
• द्वादशभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• अरतः: unattached/without delight (reading uncertain)
• अरतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट) सम्भाव्यः अर्थः: 'अरतः' = न रमणशीलः/असक्तः (unattached)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards, above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• अनन्तकः: Anantaka
• अनन्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra) — protective invocation context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine protection through remembrance of avatāras and the infinite (Ananta) aspect of the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as both immanent in avatāras (līlā) and transcendent/infinite (ananta); refuge (śaraṇa) beyond fear.

Application: Recite as a protective close to a stotra; contemplate the ten avatāras as dharma-restorers and Ananta as the sustaining ground in adversity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.27 (protective ‘avatu’ refrain); Garuda Purana 1.45.28-29 (vyūha/navavyūha enumerations)

Characters & Entities

• Aniruddha
• Anantaka

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Aniruddha and Anantaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a protective invocation, calling upon Viṣṇu in specific forms—Aniruddha (linked here with ten avatāras) and Anantaka (the Endless)—to grant safeguarding in all directions, including “from above.”

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s spiritual aims?

Even when the text discusses cosmology, dharma, or post-death themes, it repeatedly anchors protection and liberation in devotion to Viṣṇu; this verse emphasizes divine guardianship through recognized theological forms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a brief daily remembrance or prayer for protection—reflecting on the ten avatāras as dharma-restoring interventions and on Anantaka as the limitless divine presence supporting one’s higher (ūrdhva) orientation.