Shloka 17

Viṣṇu as Seed-Cause: Pañcarātra Emanations, Tattva-Unfolding, and the Avatāra Chronology

Devanagari script

ततो हरिः प्रादुरभून्महात्मा धन्वन्तरिर्नाम हरिन्मणिद्युतिः / अपथ्यदोषान्परिहर्तुमेव हस्ते गृहीत्वा पूर्णकुभं सुधाभिः

Transliteration

tato hariḥ prādurabhūnmahātmā dhanvantarirnāma harinmaṇidyutiḥ / apathyadoṣānparihartumeva haste gṛhītvā pūrṇakubhaṃ sudhābhiḥ

Translation

Then Hari, the great-souled one, appeared as Dhanvantari, radiant like a green jewel, holding in His hand a pot filled with Sudhā (amṛta, nectar), manifesting to remove the faults born of what is unwholesome and improper.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालार्थक-अव्यय

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रादुरभूत्: appeared
• प्रादुरभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्रादुर्- (प्रादुर्भाव)

• महात्मा: great-souled
• महात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; हरिणः विशेषण

• धन्वन्तरिः: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable meaning ‘by name’)

• हरिन्मणिद्युतिः: having the radiance of an emerald
• हरिन्मणिद्युतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरित्/हरिन् + मणि + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (हरिन्मणेर् द्युतिः)

• अपथ्यदोषान्: harmful defects/ills
• अपथ्यदोषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपथ्य + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अपथ्यस्य दोषाः)

• परिहर्तुम्: to remove
• परिहर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), उपसर्ग: परि-; हेत्वर्थ

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• हस्ते: in (his) hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having taken)

• पूर्णकुभम्: a full pot
• पूर्णकुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पूर्णः कुम्भः)

• सुधाभिः: with nectar
• सुधाभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrated within the Purana’s discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Removal of apathya-doṣa (faults from unwholesome conduct) through right regimen and divine grace; life is to be protected as a dharmic instrument.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha expressed as upakāra (beneficence) sustaining embodied beings; harmony of body-mind as support for sādhana.

Application: Adopt apathya-avoidance: disciplined diet, conduct, and moderation; invoke Dhanvantari for clarity in healing choices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean emergence scene

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.15 (avatāra enumeration including Dhanvantari)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Dhanvantari
• Sudha (Amrita)

FAQs

What is the importance of Dhanvantari in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Dhanvantari as Hari’s manifestation who brings the nectar-pot, symbolizing divine healing and the removal of harm caused by unwholesome diet and conduct (apathya-doṣa).

How does this verse connect spiritual practice with health and discipline?

By stating that Hari appears to remove apathya-doṣa, the verse links dharmic living—right food, right conduct, and restraint—with purification and well-being, showing health as part of righteous order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt apathya-avoidance: reduce harmful habits, choose sattvic and wholesome routines, and treat health-care as a dharmic responsibility—seeing healing as both physical and ethical correction.