Shloka 2

Devanagari script

मत्स्यादिकस्वरूपेण त्ववतारं करोत्यजः / मत्स्यो भूत्वा हयग्रीवं दैत्यं हत्वाजिकण्टकम्

Transliteration

matsyādikasvarūpeṇa tvavatāraṃ karotyajaḥ / matsyo bhūtvā hayagrīvaṃ daityaṃ hatvājikaṇṭakam

Translation

അജൻ (അജന്മൻ) മത്‌സ്യാദി രൂപങ്ങളിൽ അവതാരങ്ങൾ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നു. മത്‌സ്യനായി യാഗത്തിന് മുള്ളുപോലെ ഉപദ്രവമായ ഹയഗ്രീവ ദൈത്യനെ വധിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• मत्स्यादिकस्वरूपेण: in/with the form of fish etc.
• मत्स्यादिकस्वरूपेण: Karaṇa (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य-आदि-स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (मत्स्यादिकं स्वरूपं यस्य/येन)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• अवतारम्: descent, incarnation
• अवतारम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• करोति: does/makes
• करोति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अजः: the Unborn (Lord)
• अजः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेष्यः (हरिः)

• मत्स्यः: (as) a fish
• मत्स्यः: Karta (Subject; in participial construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √भू (धातु) → भूत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (Gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया (having become)

• हयग्रीवम्: Hayagrīva
• हयग्रीवम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय-ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (हयस्य ग्रीवा यस्य)

• दैत्यम्: the demon
• दैत्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; हयग्रीवस्य विशेषणम्

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √हन् (धातु) → हत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (Gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया (having slain)

• अजिकण्टकम्: the thorn/menace to the (sacrificial) goat (i.e., a great obstacle)
• अजिकण्टकम्: Karma (Object; appositional to दैत्यम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजि-कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (अजेः/अजिनः कण्टकः = बाधकः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The unborn Lord freely assumes forms to protect dharma; divine incarnation removes obstacles to yajna and sacred order.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna Brahman’s compassionate līlā; Ishvara as protector of rta/dharma through avatara.

Application: In crises, take refuge in Vishnu; remove ‘thorn-like’ obstacles to one’s sadhana (habits, distractions) to protect inner yajna (discipline).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ocean/primordial waters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana avatara descriptions (Matsya, etc.); Garuda Purana emphasis on yajna and Veda protection by Vishnu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Matsya
• Hayagriva

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s avatars in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the Unborn Lord deliberately descends in various forms (like Matsya) to remove threats that obstruct dharma and sacred rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames cosmic order: when yajña and dharma are protected by divine intervention, the moral law (karma) remains intact—supporting the soul’s righteous progress toward higher worlds and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support dharma in daily life—protect truth, ethical conduct, and sacred duties—so that harmful ‘obstacles’ to inner and social order are removed, just as the Lord removes threats to yajña.