Shloka 41

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

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

Devanagari script

देवादीनां रक्षणाय ह्यधर्महारणाय च / दुष्टानाञ्च वधार्थाय ह्यवतारं करोति च

Transliteration

devādīnāṃ rakṣaṇāya hyadharmahāraṇāya ca / duṣṭānāñca vadhārthāya hyavatāraṃ karoti ca

Translation

Demi melindungi para dewa dan yang lain, demi menghapus adharma, dan demi membinasakan orang jahat, Dia sungguh mengambil penjelmaan (avatāra).

Word by Word

• देवादीनाम्: of the gods and others
• देवादीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘देव-आदि’ = देवा आदयः येषाम् (gods and others)

• रक्षणाय: for protection
• रक्षणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे दत्तिव (dative of purpose)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुबोधक (particle: indeed/for)

• अधर्महारणाय: for removing unrighteousness
• अधर्महारणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म + हारण (हृ धातु/हर् धातु से; प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अधर्म-हारण’ = अधर्मस्य हारणम् (removal of adharma)

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

• दुष्टानाम्: of the wicked
• दुष्टानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• वधार्थाय: for the purpose of slaying
• वधार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वध-अर्थ’ = वधस्य अर्थः/प्रयोजनम् (for the purpose of killing)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक

• अवतारम्: an incarnation
• अवतारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करोति: does/makes
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avatāra is undertaken for loka-saṅgraha: protection of the righteous and eradication of adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as dharma-saṃsthāpaka; compassionate sovereignty balancing grace and justice.

Application: Support dharmic order: protect vulnerable, oppose injustice, and correct wrongdoing without hatred—mirroring the avatāra’s purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.40 (Kalki as example); Garuda Purana 1.145.42 (Dhanvantari as beneficent avatāra)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s avatāra (incarnation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the avatāra’s purpose is threefold: to protect divine order (the devas and others), to remove adharma, and to eliminate destructive wickedness that harms dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the moral architecture governing the soul’s journey: when adharma rises, divine intervention restores dharma, reinforcing that ethical conduct and cosmic law shape outcomes for beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Align daily choices with dharma—protect what is good, reduce harm and injustice, and resist destructive tendencies—seeing moral action as participation in the restoration of order.