Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

ततः सप्तदशे जातः सत्यवत्यां पराशरात् / चक्रे वेदतरोः शाखां दृष्ट्वा पुंसो ऽल्पमेधसः

Transliteration

tataḥ saptadaśe jātaḥ satyavatyāṃ parāśarāt / cakre vedataroḥ śākhāṃ dṛṣṭvā puṃso 'lpamedhasaḥ

Translation

തുടർന്ന് സപ്തദശാവതാരത്തിൽ സത്യവതിയിൽ പരാശരനിൽ നിന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ജനിച്ചു; മനുഷ്യരുടെ അൽപമേധസ്സു കണ്ടു വേദവൃക്ഷത്തിന്റെ ശാഖകൾ ക്രമപ്പെടുത്തി വിഭജിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• saptadaśe: in the seventeenth
• saptadaśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptadaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (avatāre implied)

• jātaḥ: born
• jātaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• satyavatyām: in Satyavati
• satyavatyām: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• parāśarāt: from Parashara
• parāśarāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parāśara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• cakre: made, arranged
• cakre: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vedataroḥ: of the Veda-tree
• vedataroḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + taru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वेदः इव तरुः’/‘वेद-तरुः’ (Veda-tree)

• śākhām: a branch
• śākhām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• puṃsaḥ: of men/people
• puṃsaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• alpamedhasaḥ: of little intellect
• alpamedhasaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa + medhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (puṃsaḥ)

Speaker

Sūta (narrative voice) describing Vyāsa; within the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s framing dialogue ultimately addressed for Garuḍa’s understanding

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Scriptural organization is an act of compassion: knowledge is adapted to the capacity of seekers.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra as pramāṇa; vyavasthā (systematization) to guide beings of diminished medhā in Kali tendencies.

Application: Study in structured steps; use reliable commentaries/teachers; tailor learning methods to capacity without diluting truth.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank/āśrama milieu

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (Vyāsa avatāra mention)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavatī
• Parāśara
• Vyāsa
• Veda

FAQs

What is the importance of Vyāsa dividing the Vedas in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse credits Vyāsa with organizing the single Vedic tradition into accessible branches because people’s capacity to grasp it had diminished, preserving dharma through structured transmission.

How does this verse relate to spiritual practice rather than afterlife teachings?

It establishes scriptural authority: the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s teachings rest on a Vedic foundation arranged by Vyāsa so that seekers with limited capacity can still learn and practice dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a disciplined, structured way to study and practice—through a reliable branch (śākhā), teacher, and daily recitation—rather than attempting everything at once without method.