Shloka 39
Hari-stuti by Śrī, Brahmā, Vāyu, Sarasvatī, Śeṣa, Garuḍa, Rudra, Vāruṇī and Pārvatī
Humility, Surrender, and the Power of the Name
यथैव मूलं च तथावतारे दुः खादिकं नास्ति समीरणस्य / वायुस्तथान्ये च उभौ मुकुन्दस्तथावतारेषु न दुः खरूपौ
yathaiva mūlaṃ ca tathāvatāre duḥ khādikaṃ nāsti samīraṇasya / vāyustathānye ca ubhau mukundastathāvatāreṣu na duḥ kharūpau
Sebagaimana Samīraṇa (Angin), pada asalnya dan pada segala penjelmaannya, tiada penderitaan dan seumpamanya, demikian juga Vāyu dan para dewa yang lain. Begitu pula Mukunda (Viṣṇu) dalam segala avatāra-Nya tidak pernah bersifat penderitaan.
Lord Vishnu (Mukunda) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)
Concept: Distinction between appearance and essential nature: the divine, whether in source or manifestation (including avatāras), is not intrinsically subject to duḥkha.
Vedantic Theme: Paramārtha vs vyavahāra: the Lord’s transcendence even while manifesting; avatāra as līlā without bondage to karma.
Application: When encountering narratives of divine struggle, contemplate the teaching of transcendence; apply it by cultivating inner steadiness amid life’s fluctuations.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): teachings on Viṣṇu’s supremacy and avatāra purpose
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that an avatāra is a manifestation of the Divine without being bound by duḥkha (suffering) or karmic limitation, preserving God’s transcendence even while appearing in the world.
Unlike embodied souls who experience duḥkha due to karma and subtle-body conditioning, the verse states that devas like Vāyu and especially Mukunda remain unaffected in both their source-state and manifested forms.
Cultivate devotion and discernment: see divine presence as compassionate guidance rather than worldly limitation, and strive to reduce attachment to duḥkha by aligning actions with dharma.