Shloka 39

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

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

Devanagari script

विष्णोः स्वर्गं जगामाथ भीमाद्यैर्भ्रातृभिर्युतः / वासुदेवः पुनर्बुद्ध-संमोहाय सुरद्विषाम्

Transliteration

viṣṇoḥ svargaṃ jagāmātha bhīmādyairbhrātṛbhiryutaḥ / vāsudevaḥ punarbuddha-saṃmohāya suradviṣām

Translation

Kemudian baginda, bersama saudara-saudaranya bermula dengan Bhīma, berangkat ke syurga kediaman Viṣṇu. Dan Vāsudeva sekali lagi menzahir sebagai Buddha untuk memperdaya musuh-musuh para dewa.

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धसूचक (particle: then/now)

• भीमाद्यैः: with Bhīma and others
• भीमाद्यैः: Sahakari (Associate/सहकारी; instrumental of accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘भीम-आदि’ = भीमः आदिः येषाम् (those beginning with Bhīma)

• भ्रातृभिः: with (his) brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Sahakari (Associate/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युतः: accompanied, joined (with)
• युतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘युक्त/युत’ = संयुक्तः

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/पुनरावृत्ति-बोधक (adverb: again)

• बुद्धसंमोहाय: for (their) delusion by Buddha
• बुद्धसंमोहाय: Sampradana (Purpose/recipient; dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्ध + संमोह (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘बुद्ध-संमोह’ = बुद्धेन/बुद्धरूपेण संमोहः (delusion via Buddha)

• सुरद्विषाम्: of the god-haters
• सुरद्विषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + द्विष् (धातु) → द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘सुर-द्विष्’ = सुरान् द्विषन्ति इति (enemies of the gods)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s avatāras operate for cosmic balance; even ‘delusion’ can be a divine instrument to protect dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s māyā as purposeful governance (līlā) while remaining transcendent; protection of sattva through avatāra.

Application: Cultivate steadiness in Viṣṇu-devotion and discernment: do not be shaken by confusing appearances; align with dharma rather than factional rhetoric.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.40-43 (Kalki, avatāra purpose, Dhanvantari, śravaṇa-phala)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vasudeva
• Buddha
• Bhima
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Buddha reference in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Buddha as a deliberate manifestation of Vāsudeva meant to redirect or confound those described as enemies of the devas, emphasizing divine strategy in restoring cosmic balance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it highlights Viṣṇu’s heavenly abode as the destination of the divinely aligned, while also showing that spiritual history includes strategic divine interventions that shape religious paths.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Discern teachings by their effect on dharma—choose disciplines that cultivate clarity, responsibility, and reverence rather than confusion, hostility, or ethical decline.