Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

धान्वन्तरं द्वादशमं त्रयोदशममेव च / आप्यायत्सुरानन्यान्मोहिन्या मोहयंस्त्रिया

Transliteration

dhānvantaraṃ dvādaśamaṃ trayodaśamameva ca / āpyāyatsurānanyānmohinyā mohayaṃstriyā

Translation

बारहवें अवतार में भगवान धन्वंतरि हुए और तेरहवें में भी (एक अन्य रूप से प्रकट हुए)। मोहिनी रूपी स्त्री बनकर उन्होंने दूसरों को मोहित किया और देवताओं को पुष्ट व तृप्त किया।

Word by Word

• dhānvantaram: Dhanvantari
• dhānvantaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānvantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; अवतारनाम

• dvādaśamam: as the twelfth
• dvādaśamam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• trayodaśamam: as the thirteenth
• trayodaśamam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-निपातः; अवधारणार्थः (emphasis/only/indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• āpyāyat: nourished/caused to thrive
• āpyāyat: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-pyā (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदी

• surān: the gods
• surān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• anyān: the others
• anyān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; ‘others’ (here: the others = asuras)

• mohinyā: by Mohinī
• mohinyā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; करणत्वे (as instrument)

• mohayan: deluding
• mohayan: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muh (धातु) + mohayan (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘deluding’

• striyā: as/with (the guise of) a woman
• striyā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; उपमान/रूपेण (as a woman)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord manifests as Dhanvantari (healing/nectar) and as Mohinī (enchantment) to protect cosmic balance—sometimes through māyā in service of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā as divine instrument (upāya) under Īśvara’s control; preservation of dharmic order even via paradoxical means.

Application: Use skillful means ethically: healing to restore, strategy to prevent harm; discern intention (dharma) behind appearances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic event setting (ocean of churning)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (Dhanvantari and Mohini in avatāra list)

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Mohini
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Dhanvantari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Dhanvantari as a divine manifestation associated with nourishment and well-being—supporting the Devas and sustaining cosmic order through healing and preservation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames a core Garuda Purana theme: dharma is protected by divine intervention. For the soul, alignment with dharma (right conduct) is presented as the stabilizing principle behind cosmic justice and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Uphold dharma through discernment: choose actions that strengthen clarity, health, and ethical order—rather than being misled by appearances that promote selfishness or harm.