Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

हरिः स प्रथमं देवः कौमारं सर्गमास्थितः / चचार दुश्चरं ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मचर्यमखण्डितम्

Transliteration

hariḥ sa prathamaṃ devaḥ kaumāraṃ sargamāsthitaḥ / cacāra duścaraṃ brahman brahmacaryamakhaṇḍitam

Translation

ആദിദേവനായ ഹരി ആദ്യം കൗമാര സൃഷ്ടിഘട്ടത്തിൽ നിലകൊണ്ട്—ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ—ദുഷ്കരമായ, അഖണ്ഡ ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first/at first
• प्रथमम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: ‘first/at first’)

• देवः: god
• देवः: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण ‘हरिः’

• कौमारम्: pertaining to boyhood (kaumāra)
• कौमारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘सर्गम्’

• सर्गम्: creation/phase (sarga)
• सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having assumed/entered
• आस्थितः: Kriya (Participial predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) → आस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle/PPP used in active sense): ‘having assumed/entered’

• चचार: practised/went about
• चचार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दुश्चरम्: hard to practise
• दुश्चरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुष्करं चर्यम्/दुश्चरम्) विशेषणम् ‘ब्रह्मचर्यम्’

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibate discipline (brahmacarya)
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणि चर्या/ब्रह्मसम्बन्धिनी चर्या)

• अखण्डितम्: unbroken/undivided
• अखण्डितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (निषेध) + खण्डित (कृदन्त; √खण्ड्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘ब्रह्मचर्यम्’; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator addressing a Brahmin listener; not the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue in this verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmacarya as difficult yet unbroken discipline; even the primordial Lord exemplifies restraint for cosmic purpose.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi through niyama; tapas as inner fire enabling higher knowledge and stability in sattva.

Application: Practice sense-restraint and integrity; adopt disciplined routines (study, moderation, celibacy/sexual ethics as per life-stage) to strengthen mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-phase

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (Kaumāra/avatāra framing; tapas motif)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Kaumāra (Kaumara) phase of creation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Kaumāra sarga as an early mode of manifestation associated with purity and disciplined restraint, framing creation as grounded in tapas and order rather than mere material expansion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting unbroken brahmacarya and difficult discipline, it implies that inner purity and restraint are foundational virtues that support spiritual progress and liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined conduct—especially control of senses, truthful living, and consistent spiritual practice—so that daily life becomes supportive of clarity, devotion, and ethical strength.