Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

ततो हरिर्जगृहे श्रीवपुश्च यन्मोहिनीति प्रवदन्ति लोके / उद्वृत्तानां दितिजानां महात्मा सम्यक्तेषां वञ्चयितुं हरिर्बलम्

Transliteration

tato harirjagṛhe śrīvapuśca yanmohinīti pravadanti loke / udvṛttānāṃ ditijānāṃ mahātmā samyakteṣāṃ vañcayituṃ harirbalam

Translation

随后，诃利取那光耀殊丽之身，世人称之为“摩希尼”（Mohinī）。大心的诃利承此神力，为要巧妙欺夺傲慢的底提之子，即便他们已整齐集结、准备周全。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालार्थक-अव्यय

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

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

• श्रीवपुः: a splendid form
• श्रीवपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (श्रिया युक्तं वपुः)

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

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• मोहिनी: Mohinī
• मोहिनी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• प्रवदन्ति: they call/say
• प्रवदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• उद्वृत्तानाम्: of the arrogant/excited
• उद्वृत्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘उद्वृत्त’ = उन्मत्त/उद्धत

• दितिजानाम्: of the Diti-born (Daityas)
• दितिजानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (दितेः जायन्ते इति)

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; हरिणः विशेषणरूपेण

• सम्यक्: properly/fully
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: properly/completely)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वञ्चयितुम्: to deceive
• वञ्चयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), हेत्वर्थ

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

• बलम्: power/strength (as means)
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/अर्थ: ‘बलम्’ = बलवान्/बलम् रूपम्)

Speaker

Suta/Narrator (Purana narrative voice describing Hari’s act)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Māyā can be wielded by Īśvara as upāya (skillful means) to restrain adharma; arrogance (mada) blinds even the prepared.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-māyā: the Lord’s power to project forms for loka-saṅgraha; discernment that appearances can serve higher order.

Application: Do not be intoxicated by confidence; cultivate viveka (discernment). Use diplomacy ethically to prevent harm and protect rightful outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: mythic assembly scene

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.15 (Mohinī among avatāra forms)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Mohini
• Ditijas (Daityas/Asuras)
• Diti

FAQs

What is the importance of Mohini in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Mohinī as Vishnu’s radiant form of divine māyā used strategically to protect dharma by outmaneuvering the Daityas’ arrogance and disruptive intent.

How does this verse explain delusion (moha) in a spiritual context?

It presents delusion as a controlled divine instrument: Hari employs māyā not as ignorance, but as purposeful power to restrain pride and restore right order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat beauty, persuasion, and charisma as forces that can be used ethically; avoid arrogance and manipulation, and align personal power with dharma and truthful intent.