Shloka 16

मुक्ता-उत्पत्ति-भेदाः, मूल्य-मान-निर्णयः, शोधन-परीक्षा-लक्षणानि

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Devanagari script

अर्चिः प्रभानावृतदिग्विभागमादित्यवहुः खविभाव्यबिम्बम् / तेजस्तिरस्कृत्य हुताशनेन्दुनक्षत्रताराप्रभवं समग्रम्

Transliteration

arciḥ prabhānāvṛtadigvibhāgamādityavahuḥ khavibhāvyabimbam / tejastiraskṛtya hutāśanendunakṣatratārāprabhavaṃ samagram

Translation

شعاعٌ متّقدٌ، بهاؤه يحجبُ الجهات، كأنّه يحملُ الشمسَ، وله قرصٌ مضيءٌ كالسّماء؛ وقد طمسَ بسطوعه لمعانَ النارِ والقمرِ والكواكبِ والنجومِ جميعًا.

Word by Word

• अर्चिः: flame/splendour
• अर्चिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग usage), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रभा-नावृत-दिग्-विभागम्: whose quarters are not covered by light / with directions not obscured by radiance
• प्रभा-नावृत-दिग्-विभागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक) + न-आवृत (कृदन्त) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negated), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• आदित्य-वहुः: sun-bearer (sun-like carrier)
• आदित्य-वहुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• ख-विभाव्य-बिम्बम्: a disc/orb illumining the sky
• ख-विभाव्य-बिम्बम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक) + विभाव्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/तुमुन्-भाव) + बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विभाव्य = कृदन्त (gerundive/absolutive sense ‘having illumined/considered’) used adjectivally

• तेजः: splendour
• तेजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• तिरस्कृत्य: having eclipsed/obscured
• तिरस्कृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिरस्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय

• हुताशन-इन्दु-नक्षत्र-तारा-प्रभवम्: born of (i.e., consisting of) fire, moon, stars and planets
• हुताशन-इन्दु-नक्षत्र-तारा-प्रभवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तारा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) + तत्पुरुष (प्रभव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• समग्रम्: entire/whole
• समग्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Supreme radiance (tejas) can eclipse all derivative lights; the many are outshone by the One source-like brilliance.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Paramātman as self-luminous (svayaṃ-prakāśa); worldly lights are dependent illuminators.

Application: Contemplate the dependent nature of sensory ‘lights’ (status, fame, intellect) and seek the source—steady inner clarity through meditation and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic expanse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: passages describing divine forms/tejas and cosmic measures (general thematic parallels)

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Sun)
• Hutashana (Fire/Agni)
• Indu (Moon)
• Nakshatras (constellations)
• Taras (stars)

FAQs

What is the importance of this overwhelming radiance in the Garuda Purana?

It signals a supra-cosmic, divine brilliance that surpasses ordinary celestial lights, marking an encounter with a higher spiritual reality described in Vishnu’s teaching to Garuda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By portraying a light that eclipses sun, moon, and stars, the text frames the soul’s journey (or the visionary account of it) as moving beyond familiar cosmic markers into subtler, transcendent realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual progress as a shift from external “lights” (status, power, sensory certainty) toward inner clarity—cultivated through dharma, restraint, and remembrance of the divine.