Shloka 13

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

रुद्रावतारान्वक्ष्येहं ताञ्छृणु त्वं समाहितः / योहङ्कारात्मको रुद्रः स एवाभूत्खगेश्वर

Transliteration

rudrāvatārānvakṣyehaṃ tāñchṛṇu tvaṃ samāhitaḥ / yohaṅkārātmako rudraḥ sa evābhūtkhageśvara

Translation

“Nay ta sẽ nói về các hóa thân của Rudra—hãy lắng nghe với tâm chuyên nhất. Chính Rudra, bản tính là ahaṅkāra (ngã mạn), đã trở thành Khageśvara, Chúa tể loài chim.”

Word by Word

• रुद्र-अवतारान्: Rudra-incarnations
• रुद्र-अवतारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'incarnations of Rudra'

• वक्ष्ये: I will tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Simple future (लृट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन), Pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• समाहितः: attentive / composed
• समाहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Relative pronoun (यत्-प्रत्यय)

• अहङ्कार-आत्मकः: of ego-nature
• अहङ्कार-आत्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'of the nature of ego'

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• खग-ईश्वर: lord of birds
• खग-ईश्वर: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'lord of birds'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rudra identified with the ahaṅkāra-tattva (ego principle) taking a specific manifest form (Khageśvara).

Vedantic Theme: Sāṅkhya-tinged tattva mapping (ahaṅkāra) integrated into Purāṇic deity-forms; the play of guṇa-born principles as deities under higher order.

Application: Observe ego (ahaṅkāra) as a powerful formative principle; practice mindfulness and devotion to prevent ego from becoming the ‘lord’ directing one’s life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.18.14-15 (Sadāśiva/Sadāśaiva distinction and tamas identification)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Khageshvara (Garuda)
• Ahamkara

FAQs

What is the importance of Rudra-avatāras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Rudra’s manifestations as a structured teaching topic, presenting them as cosmological principles to be heard with focused attention, not merely as mythic stories.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to ahaṅkāra (the ‘I’-sense) as a key force shaping identity; Garuda Purana’s broader soteriology treats mastery over ego as essential for spiritual clarity and liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice self-observation of the ‘I’-sense (ahaṅkāra) in daily decisions; reducing ego-driven reactions supports dharmic conduct and steadier spiritual discipline.