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

ആറാമൻ അത്രിയുടെ പുത്രനായി അനസൂയയിലൂടെ ലഭിച്ച ദത്തൻ (ദത്താത്രേയൻ); അദ്ദേഹം അലർക്കനും പ്രഹ്ലാദാദികൾക്കും ആൻവീക്ഷികീ വിദ്യ ഉപദേശിച്ചു।

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.