Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सुरासुराणामुदधिं मथ्नतां मन्दराचलम् / दध्रे कमठरूपेण पृष्ठ एकादशे विभुः

Transliteration

surāsurāṇāmudadhiṃ mathnatāṃ mandarācalam / dadhre kamaṭharūpeṇa pṛṣṭha ekādaśe vibhuḥ

Translation

ദേവന്മാരും അസുരന്മാരും സമുദ്രം മഥിക്കുമ്പോൾ മന്ദരാചലം മഥനദണ്ഡമായി. പതിനൊന്നാം അവതാരത്തിൽ സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ പ്രഭു കൂർമ (കമഠ) രൂപം ധരിച്ചു തന്റെ പുറത്ത് ആ പർവ്വതം വഹിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• surāsurāṇām: of gods and demons
• surāsurāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्वः—सुराश्च असुराश्च

• udadhim: ocean
• udadhim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• mathnatām: of (those) churning
• mathnatām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: math (धातु) + mathnat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्तः (present active participle/शतृ) ‘mathnat’ + षष्ठी-बहुवचनस्य स्थानि (genitive plural sense) / अथवा षष्ठी-बहुवचन-प्रयोगः ‘of those churning’; रूपम्: मथ्नताम्

• mandarācalam: Mandara mountain
• mandarācalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; मन्दरः अचलः (Mandara mountain)

• dadhre: bore/supported
• dadhre: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदी

• kamaṭha-rūpeṇa: in the tortoise form
• kamaṭha-rūpeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṭha + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; समासः—कमठस्य रूपेण (in the form of a tortoise)

• pṛṣṭhe: on (his) back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• ekādaśe: in the eleventh (incarnation)
• ekādaśe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम् (in the eleventh)

• vibhuḥ: the Lord, the mighty one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda / Vinatā-putra, as typical in Garuḍa Purāṇa framing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In cooperative yet conflicted endeavors (deva-asura), success requires a sustaining foundation—Vishnu as Kurma bears the burden and stabilizes the process.

Vedantic Theme: Adhiṣṭhāna (substratum) principle: the Lord as the unseen support of all activity; balance of opposing forces under divine governance.

Application: In major projects, ensure stable foundations (ethics, systems, support roles); recognize and honor ‘supporting’ contributors who bear hidden loads.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean; mountain pivot

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (Kurma among avatāras)

Characters & Entities

• Devas (Suras)
• Asuras
• Ocean (Samudra)
• Mount Mandara
• Lord Vishnu (Vibhu, Kurma/Kamaṭha avatāra)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Kurma (tortoise) form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vishnu’s sustaining role: by becoming Kurma and supporting Mandara, He enables the cosmic process (Samudra Manthana) to proceed without collapse—symbolizing divine support behind all transformative efforts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

Indirectly, it teaches that order and progress depend on a stabilizing divine foundation—paralleling how dharma, rites, and right understanding support the jīva’s journey through change and संकट (crisis) toward higher good.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake intense efforts (like “churning”) with humility and a stable base—dharma, discipline, and devotion—recognizing that lasting results come when actions are supported by higher principles rather than ego or conflict.