Shloka 4

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

क्षीरोदमथने वै द्यो देवो धन्वन्तरिर्ह्यर्भूत् / बिभ्रत्कमण्डलुं पूर्णममृतेन समुत्थितः

Transliteration

kṣīrodamathane vai dyo devo dhanvantarirhyarbhūt / bibhratkamaṇḍaluṃ pūrṇamamṛtena samutthitaḥ

Translation

Ketika Samudra Susu dikisar, Dhanvantari yang ilahi benar-benar muncul, bangkit sambil menjunjung kamaṇḍalu yang penuh dengan amṛta, nektar keabadian.

Word by Word

• क्षीरोद-मथने: in the churning of the Milk-ocean
• क्षीरोद-मथने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद (प्रातिपदिक) + मथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरोदस्य मथने)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—एव/खलु (indeed)

• द्यः: the heaven/sky (as a deity)
• द्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ/द्युस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वैदिक-रूप (dyauḥ > dyaḥ)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• धन्वन्तरिः: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चये (for/indeed)

• अभूत्: arose/appeared
• अभूत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/अतीत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः—भू (to be)

• बिभ्रत्: bearing
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (Agent participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—भृ (to bear)

• कमण्डलुम्: a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• कमण्डलुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पूर्णम्: full
• पूर्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणं—कमण्डलुम् (acc. sg.)

• अमृतेन: with nectar
• अमृतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• समुत्थितः: having arisen/emerged
• समुत्थितः: Karta (Predicate participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—स्था (to stand/ arise) उपसर्गाः—सम्, उत्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine manifestations arise to restore and nourish the devas; amṛta signifies the Lord’s sustaining power.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as jagat-kāraṇa and anugraha-dātā; the imperishable (amṛta) as a symbol of the deathless Brahman.

Application: Cultivate remembrance of the Lord as healer and sustainer; use the image of amṛta as motivation for sāttvika living and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142 (avatāra/manifestation sequence context)

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Kshiroda (Ocean of Milk)
• Amrita

FAQs

What is the importance of Dhanvantari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Dhanvantari’s divine manifestation as the bearer of amṛta, establishing him as a celestial source of healing and life-preserving knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to the scriptural motif that immortality (amṛta) is divine and not merely bodily—implying that liberation is granted through higher dharma and grace rather than material means.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat health and healing as sacred duties (dharma): pursue ethical living, disciplined care of the body, and reverence for life-supporting knowledge as a spiritual practice.