Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

जगतो रक्षणार्थाय वासुदेवो ऽजरो ऽमरः / स कुमारादिरूपेण अवतारान्करोत्यजः

Transliteration

jagato rakṣaṇārthāya vāsudevo 'jaro 'maraḥ / sa kumārādirūpeṇa avatārānkarotyajaḥ

Translation

为护持世界，婆苏提婆——不老不死——示现诸多化身。无生者（Aja）以诸形相显现，其始自库玛罗诸圣童。

Word by Word

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्षणार्थाय: for (the purpose of) protection
• रक्षणार्थाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रक्षणस्य अर्थः) = ‘for the purpose of protection’

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अजरः: unaging
• अजरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘वासुदेवः’

• अमरः: immortal
• अमरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘वासुदेवः’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुमारादिरूपेण: in the form of a boy etc.
• कुमारादिरूपेण: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कुमारादि-रूपेण = ‘in the form beginning with a boy’)

• अवतारान्: incarnations
• अवतारान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• करोति: makes/undertakes
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अजः: the unborn one
• अजः: Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण ‘सः’

Speaker

Sūta/Narrator (introducing Lord Vāsudeva’s saving function in the Viṣṇu–Garuda context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The deathless Vāsudeva descends in avatāras to protect the world; transcendence coexists with compassionate immanence.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā and avatāra as upāya for dharma-saṃsthāpana; nirguṇa ground with saguṇa manifestation.

Application: Cultivate trust (śraddhā) in divine guardianship; remember avatāras during संकट to steady the mind and act dharmically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (avatāra enumeration begins: Kaumāra, Varāha, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu)
• Kumāras

FAQs

What is the importance of avatāra (divine incarnation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames avatāra as Vāsudeva’s deliberate descent for जगत-रक्षण (protecting the world) and restoring dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it establishes Viṣṇu as the cosmic protector—setting the theological basis for later teachings on dharma, karma, and liberation that guide the soul’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in alignment with dharma and seek refuge in the divine protector; the verse encourages trust that righteous order is upheld through divine guidance.