Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 15

Viṣṇu as Seed-Cause: Pañcarātra Emanations, Tattva-Unfolding, and the Avatāra Chronology

Devanagari script

स एव विष्णुः स उरुक्रमोभूदाग्नीध्रपुत्र्यां मेरुदेव्यां च नाभेः / विद्यारतानां मानिनां सर्वदैवमत्याश्चर्यं दर्शयितुं च वीन्द्र

Transliteration

sa eva viṣṇuḥ sa urukramobhūdāgnīdhraputryāṃ merudevyāṃ ca nābheḥ / vidyāratānāṃ mānināṃ sarvadaivamatyāścaryaṃ darśayituṃ ca vīndra

Translation

ਹੇ ਪੰਛੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ (ਗਰੁੜ), ਉਹੀ ਵਿਸ਼ਨੂ—ਉਰੁਕ੍ਰਮ, ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਕਦਮਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ—ਆਗਨੀਧ੍ਰ ਦੀ ਧੀ ਮੇਰੁਦੇਵੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਨਾਭੀ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋਇਆ। ਵਿਦਿਆ-ਰਤ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਦਵਾਨ ਮੰਨਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਰਮ ਅਦਭੁਤ ਸੱਚ ਦਿਖਾਉਣ ਲਈ।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उरुक्रमः: Urukrama (wide-strider)
• उरुक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरु + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (उरवः क्रमाः यस्य/उरुक्रमः)

• अभूत्: became/was born
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आग्नीध्रपुत्र्याम्: in (the womb of) Agnīdhra’s daughter
• आग्नीध्रपुत्र्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नीध्र + पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आग्नीध्रस्य पुत्री)

• मेरुदेव्याम्: in Merudevī
• मेरुदेव्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरुदेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नाभेः: of Nābhi
• नाभेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विद्यारतानाम्: of those devoted to knowledge
• विद्यारतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूह/जन), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (विद्यायां रताः)

• मानिनाम्: of the proud/esteemed
• मानिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सर्वदैवम्: the universal deity
• सर्वदैवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां देवः/दैवम्)

• अति-आश्चर्यम्: a great wonder
• अति-आश्चर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (अत्याश्चर्यम् = अत्यन्तम् आश्चर्यम्)

• दर्शयितुम्: to show
• दर्शयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), हेत्वर्थ (purpose)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• वीन्द्र: O best of heroes
• वीन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वीराणाम् इन्द्रः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord reveals ‘atyāścarya’ (supremely wondrous truth) to vidyā-rata (knowledge-seekers) and to those proud of learning, turning scholarship toward humility and realization.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as pride and misidentification; true jñāna is inseparable from vinaya (humility) and openness to revelation.

Application: Balance study with humility; test learning by transformation of character; remain teachable and align knowledge with service and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: royal lineage/kingdom context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated warnings against ahaṅkāra and praise of humility in spiritual pursuit (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Urukrama
• Agnidhra
• Merudevi
• Nabhi
• Garuda (Vindrah/Vinata-putra)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu manifesting in a human lineage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the Supreme (Viṣṇu/Urukrama) takes birth through a royal-human lineage (Nābhi–Merudevī) to reveal profound spiritual truth and correct the pride of mere scholarship.

How does this verse address the difference between true knowledge and pride in learning?

It contrasts vidyāratāḥ (those devoted to wisdom) with māninaḥ (the self-conceited), implying that divine revelation is meant to guide sincere seekers and humble those who mistake ego for realization.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility alongside study: let learning lead to devotion and ethical living, not self-importance—remain open to correction and the “wondrous” depth of dharma.