Shloka 77

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

पूर्वं गर्भं समाशोष्य समये प्रभवस्य च / प्रादुर्भवति देवेशी ह्यवतारचतुष्टये

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ garbhaṃ samāśoṣya samaye prabhavasya ca / prādurbhavati deveśī hyavatāracatuṣṭaye

Translation

Trước hết Ngài thu nhiếp (hấp thụ) bào thai, rồi đến đúng thời kỳ hiển lộ, Nữ Chúa Tối Thượng—Đấng Nữ Thần Chủ Tể—quả thật xuất hiện cho bốn cuộc giáng thế.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: कालाधिकरण (काल-अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (adverb of time: first/before)

• गर्भम्: the womb
• गर्भम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समाशोष्य: having completely dried up
• समाशोष्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (पूर्वकाले क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-शुष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/ल्यप्), अव्ययभाव; धातुः—शुष् (परस्मैपद) उपसर्गः सम्+आ

• समये: at the time
• समये: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• प्रभवस्य: of manifestation/origin
• प्रभवस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

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

• प्रादुर्भवति: manifests/appears
• प्रादुर्भवति: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुर्-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग/अव्ययपूर्वपद—प्रादुर्

• देवेशी: the goddess, mistress of the gods
• देवेशी: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशी)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (indeed)

• अवतारचतुष्टये: in the four incarnations
• अवतारचतुष्टये: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार-चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The divine manifestation occurs by sovereign power: first drawing in/withdrawing the embryo, then appearing at the destined time—indicating non-ordinary causality.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā-śakti and īśvara-saṅkalpa as the basis of appearance; distinction between laukika janma and divya āvirbhāva.

Application: Contemplate divine timing (kāla) and surrender anxiety about outcomes; interpret avatāra narratives as teachings on transcendence, not biology.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.76 (no semen/blood connection); Garuda Purana 3.16.80 (mokṣa by hearing)

Characters & Entities

• Deveśī (Divine Goddess)

FAQs

What is the importance of avatāra-catuṣṭaya (the four incarnations) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse links divine manifestation to a specific fourfold avatāra framework, implying that the Goddess’ appearance is coordinated with the timing and purpose of these incarnational descents.

How does this verse describe the process of manifestation (prādurbhāva)?

It presents manifestation as orderly and timed—first a drawing-in or absorption of the embryo (garbha), followed by appearance at the proper moment of origination (prabhava).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages patience and dharmic timing: meaningful outcomes—spiritual or worldly—ripen in due season, and forcing results prematurely disrupts natural order.