Shloka 43

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रसुतायैव शुश्रुताय महात्मने / भारतांश्चावतारांश्च श्रुत्वा स्वर्गं व्रजेन्नरः

Transliteration

viśvāmitrasutāyaiva śuśrutāya mahātmane / bhāratāṃścāvatārāṃśca śrutvā svargaṃ vrajennaraḥ

Translation

വിശ്വാമിത്രന്റെ മഹാത്മാവായ പുത്രൻ ശുശ്രുതൻ യഥാശ്രുതമായി കേട്ടതുപോലെ ഈ ഉപദേശം ശ്രവിച്ചു, ഭാരതവും അവതാരകഥകളും കേട്ടാൽ മനുഷ്യൻ സ്വർഗ്ഗം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• विश्वामित्रसुताय: to the son of Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रसुताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र + सुत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विश्वामित्र-सुत’ = विश्वामित्रस्य सुतः

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (particle: indeed/only)

• शुश्रुताय: to Śuśruta
• शुश्रुताय: Sampradana (Recipient; in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भारतान्: (the) Bhārata(s) / Bhārata narrative(s)
• भारतान्: Karma (Object of श्रुत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अवतारान्: incarnations
• अवतारान्: Karma (Object of श्रुत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having heard’

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal as object with motion verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa (hearing) of sacred histories—Bhārata and avatāras—generates puṇya leading to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Satsaṅga/śravaṇa as purifier of mind (citta-śuddhi), preparing for higher goals; narrative devotion as a karmic merit-path.

Application: Regularly listen to/recite purāṇic and itihāsa teachings with reverence; integrate lessons into conduct to convert hearing into lived dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: heavenly realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.39-42 (avatāras; Dhanvantari/Ayurveda context)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Śuśruta
• Bhārata (Mahābhārata)
• Avatāras

FAQs

What is the importance of śravaṇa (hearing sacred texts) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents attentive hearing of revered narratives and teachings—especially Itihāsa (Bhārata) and avatāra-kathā—as a direct source of spiritual merit leading to svarga.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Rather than detailing post-death geography, it states a causal principle: dharmic listening and assimilation of sacred accounts produces puṇya, and that puṇya becomes the basis for a favorable post-mortem destination such as svarga.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or study Itihāsa-Purāṇa narratives and avatāra teachings with faith and ethical intent, using them to guide daily conduct—treating learning as a dharmic practice, not mere information.