Shloka 12

Maṅgalācaraṇa, the Sages’ Inquiry, and Hari as Supreme with an Avatāra-Outline

Devanagari script

एको नारायणो देवो देवानामीश्वरेश्वरः / परमात्मा परं ब्रह्म जन्माद्यस्य यतो भवेत्

Transliteration

eko nārāyaṇo devo devānāmīśvareśvaraḥ / paramātmā paraṃ brahma janmādyasya yato bhavet

Translation

నారాయణుడే ఏకైక దేవుడు—దేవులకూ అధిపతులైన అధిపతి. ఆయనే పరమాత్మ, పరబ్రహ్మ; సృష్ట్యాది సమస్తం ఆయన నుండే ఉద్భవిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• एकः: one/unique
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘नारायणः’

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवः: god
• देवः: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition) ‘नारायणः’

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ईश्वरेश्वरः: Lord of lords
• ईश्वरेश्वरः: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ईश्वराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• परमात्मा: Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘ब्रह्म’

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जन्मादि: birth and so on (origin etc.)
• जन्मादि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्ववत्/तत्पुरुषार्थ (जन्म च आदि च = ‘birth etc.’)

• अस्य: of this (of Him)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यतः: from whom/whence
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal/ablatival adverb: ‘from which/wherefrom’)

• भवेत्: arises/comes to be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narratorial invocation) / Purāṇic narrator (contextual attribution: opening eulogy of Nārāyaṇa before the dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa as the sole supreme deity—Paramātman, Parabrahman, and the source of creation (janmādi).

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as jagat-kāraṇa; īśvara as both immanent and transcendent; ekatva (oneness) of the Supreme.

Application: Meditate on Nārāyaṇa as the ultimate ground of being; align worship and worldview to a single highest principle rather than fragmented deities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (opening theology: Nārāyaṇa-paratva)

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of declaring Nārāyaṇa as the Supreme in the Garuda Purana?

This verse establishes the theological foundation of the text: Nārāyaṇa is affirmed as the highest reality (Paramātmā/Parabrahman) and the ultimate source of creation, framing later teachings (including dharma and afterlife topics) under His supremacy.

How does this verse explain the origin of the universe?

By stating “janmādyasya yataḥ,” it indicates that creation and subsequent cosmic processes originate from the Supreme Brahman identified here as Nārāyaṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages devotion and ethical living grounded in the idea of a single supreme moral-spiritual authority—aligning one’s actions (dharma) with the highest truth rather than mere social pressure or fear.