Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

ततो हरिर्जगृहे कूर्मरूपं सुरासुराणामुदधिं विमथ्नताम् / पृष्ठे धर्तुं मन्दरं पर्वतं च ब्रह्माण्डं वा धर्तुमीशो महात्मा

Transliteration

tato harirjagṛhe kūrmarūpaṃ surāsurāṇāmudadhiṃ vimathnatām / pṛṣṭhe dhartuṃ mandaraṃ parvataṃ ca brahmāṇḍaṃ vā dhartumīśo mahātmā

Translation

Bấy giờ Hari (Viṣṇu) hóa thân làm Kūrma—rùa thiêng—để khi chư thiên và a-tu-la khuấy đảo đại dương, Đại Chúa Tể có thể nâng núi Mandara trên lưng Ngài; và nếu cần, Ngài cũng có thể gánh cả Brahmāṇḍa—quả trứng vũ trụ—trọn vẹn.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जगृहे: assumed/took
• जगृहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कूर्मरूपम्: the form of a tortoise
• कूर्मरूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कूर्मस्य रूपम्)

• सुरासुराणाम्: of the gods and demons
• सुरासुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (सुराश्च असुराश्च)

• उदधिम्: the ocean
• उदधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विमथ्नताम्: of those churning
• विमथ्नताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-समकक्ष), षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-; ‘विमथ्नताम्’ = ‘(तेषाम्) मथ्नताम्’ (of those churning)

• पृष्ठे: on (his) back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• धर्तुम्: to support
• धर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), हेत्वर्थ

• मन्दरम्: Mandara
• मन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पर्वतम्: mountain
• पर्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; मन्दरस्य विशेषण/अपपद

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

• ब्रह्माण्डम्: the cosmic egg/universe
• ब्रह्माण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः अण्डम्)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• धर्तुम्: to bear
• धर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), हेत्वर्थ

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महात्मा: great-souled
• महात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari), as narrated within the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara as dhartā—God sustains the world and bears the burden of cosmic processes for the welfare of beings.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat-ādhāra (Brahman/Īśvara as substratum and support) and līlā as ordered cosmic function.

Application: Cultivate trust and steadiness in upheaval; remember Viṣṇu as the supporter of dharma when collective efforts ‘churn’ life’s ocean.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean and mountain (mythic axis)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.15 (avatāra-stuti/summary of Viṣṇu’s manifestations)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Kurma (Tortoise incarnation)
• Devas
• Asuras
• Mandara Mountain
• Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk)
• Brahmanda (Cosmic Egg)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kurma (the Tortoise) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vishnu’s Kurma form as the stabilizing foundation for Samudra Manthana, symbolizing divine support that makes transformative spiritual effort possible.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or dharmic life?

By portraying the Lord as the bearer of Mandara and even the brahmanda, the verse teaches that individual striving (like churning) succeeds when aligned with dharma and supported by the sustaining divine order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake disciplined effort with steadiness—be the “support” in your duties—remembering that lasting results come from stability, patience, and alignment with higher principles.