Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

तस्य देवस्य किं रूपं जगत्सर्गः कथं मतः / कैर्व्रतैः स तु तुष्टः स्यात्केन योगेन वाप्यते

Transliteration

tasya devasya kiṃ rūpaṃ jagatsargaḥ kathaṃ mataḥ / kairvrataiḥ sa tu tuṣṭaḥ syātkena yogena vāpyate

Translation

ആ ദേവന്റെ രൂപം എന്ത്? ജഗത്സൃഷ്ടി എങ്ങനെ മനസ്സിലാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു? ഏതു വ്രതങ്ങളാൽ അവൻ പ്രസന്നനാകുന്നു, ഏതു യോഗത്തിലൂടെ അവനെ പ്രാപിക്കാം?

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Visheshana (Interrogative determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karta/Karma (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगत्सर्गः: creation of the world
• जगत्सर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः सर्गः)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (how)

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मन्/मन् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered/held’

• कैः: by which?
• कैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• व्रतैः: by vows/observances
• व्रतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• तुष्टः: pleased
• तुष्टः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; तुष् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्यात्: may become/would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• केन: by what?
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• योगेन: by what yoga/means
• योगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• आप्यते: is attained
• आप्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing the Lord’s nature and the process of creation supports disciplined practice (vrata, yoga) culminating in attainment.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahma upāsanā as a preparatory/primary means; integration of jñāna (understanding) with sādhana (practice).

Application: Choose a consistent vrata (ethical vow, fasting, purity, charity) and a yoga discipline (japa, dhyāna, prāṇāyāma) oriented to the Lord.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: teaching assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1.10 (explicit request for Nārāyaṇa-kathā)

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the Divine Lord)

FAQs

What is the importance of asking about God's form, creation, and practice in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching agenda: understanding the Divine (rūpa), the cosmos (jagat-sarga), and the practical means—vows (vrata) and yoga—by which one pleases and attains Him.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to a twofold path—right understanding and right practice—suggesting that realization is supported by disciplined observances and yoga that align the individual with the Divine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose consistent ethical vows (truthfulness, non-harm, purity, charity) and a regular yoga practice (devotion, meditation, self-discipline) aimed at inner transformation rather than mere ritual formality.