Shloka 42

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

पञ्चा शीतिब्रह्मकल्पं ये विजानन्ति भो द्विज / तेन्धं तमः प्रविशन्ति सत्यंसत्यं मयोदितम्

Transliteration

pañcā śītibrahmakalpaṃ ye vijānanti bho dvija / tendhaṃ tamaḥ praviśanti satyaṃsatyaṃ mayoditam

Translation

يا ذا الميلادين (دْوِجَا)، إن الذين يزعمون أنهم يعرفون دورة الخمس والثمانين من «كالبات براهما» يدخلون ظلامًا مُعميًا—هذه هي الحقيقة، الحقيقة، كما أعلنتُ.

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/अव्ययवत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (सामान्यतः) अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; अत्र विशेषणरूपेण

• अशीतिः: eighty
• अशीतिः: कर्मधारय-पूर्वपदार्थ (numerical qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशीतिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-कल्पम्: a Brahmā-kalpa (cosmic aeon of Brahmā)
• ब्रह्म-कल्पम्: कर्म (Object of ‘विजानन्ति’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया); एकवचन

• ये: those who
• ये: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• विजानन्ति: know/understand
• विजानन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन

• भो: O!
• भो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विज: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन); एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• अन्धम्: blind
• अन्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘तमः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: कर्म (Object of ‘प्रविशन्ति’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• प्रविशन्ति: enter
• प्रविशन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: सम्बन्धसूचक (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; शपथ/निश्चयार्थक निपात (asseverative)

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: सम्बन्धसूचक (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति-बल (repetition for emphasis)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent; with passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• उदितम्: said/uttered
• उदितम्: विधेय (Predicate; ‘(this is) said’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु) → उदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing a 'dvija' as a rhetorical vocative within the teaching)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: False claims of knowledge (especially about guarded cosmic measures) lead to delusion; humility and right understanding are essential.

Vedantic Theme: Mithyā-jñāna and ahaṅkāra lead to tamas; satya-jñāna dispels darkness.

Application: Avoid overconfident assertions in matters beyond verification; cultivate intellectual honesty, qualify statements, and prioritize transformative knowledge over speculative certainty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana admonitions against ajñāna and wrong views leading to darkness; recurring ‘satyaṃ satyaṃ’ emphatic style.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of cosmic time (kalpa) knowledge in the Garuda Purana?

This verse cautions that mere speculative claims of mastering vast cosmic cycles (kalpas) can become spiritual pride; without dharma and right understanding, such ‘knowledge’ leads to deeper ignorance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly, it frames a moral principle central to the Preta Kanda: the soul’s condition is shaped by truthfulness and humility; delusion and arrogance are described as ‘darkness,’ a state that obstructs right progress after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize ethical living, sincere practice, and humility over showing off scriptural or cosmological calculations; treat learning as a support for dharma, not as a badge of superiority.