Shloka 38

Sṛṣṭi-krama: Brahmā’s Sequential Creation of Devas, Sages, and Sense-Presiding Powers

Devanagari script

अग्निं विनिर्ममे ब्रह्मात्वगिन्द्रियतः प्रभुः / अतो वागभिमानी सं पञ्चवर्षादनन्तरम्

Transliteration

agniṃ vinirmame brahmātvagindriyataḥ prabhuḥ / ato vāgabhimānī saṃ pañcavarṣādanantaram

Translation

من عضو اللمس صاغ الربّ براهما أغني، النار المقدّسة؛ ثمّ على الترتيب وفي أوانه تجلّت القوّة المُشرفة على الكلام (فاجا) بعد خمس سنين.

Word by Word

• अग्निम्: Agni (fire-deity)
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• विनिर्ममे: created
• विनिर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मा (धातु) + वि + निर् (उपसर्गौ)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he created’

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वक्-इन्द्रियतः: from the sense-organ of touch (skin)
• त्वक्-इन्द्रियतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वक् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘त्वगिन्द्रियम्’ = organ of touch/skin-sense); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘from the organ of touch’

• प्रभुः: the Lord (the powerful one)
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषणरूपेण

• अतः: then/thereafter; therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतु/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय): ‘therefore/then/from that’

• वाक्-अभिमानी: the presiding deity of speech
• वाक्-अभिमानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वाचः अभिमानी’ = presiding deity of speech); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• पञ्च-वर्षात्: after five years
• पञ्च-वर्षात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पञ्चानां वर्षाणाम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘after five years’

• अनन्तरम्: thereafter
• अनन्तरम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘thereafter’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sṛṣṭi-krama: elements and presiding deities arise from subtle faculties; fire is linked with touch and speech-principle follows in sequence.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa-apavāda style cosmology: mapping of indriya–tanmātra–bhūta and devatā-abhi-māna to show the dependent, constructed nature of the manifest.

Application: Use the indriya–devatā mapping for sense-restraint and meditation: contemplate speech as a governed power and cultivate disciplined vāṇī (truthful, measured speech).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.13 (sṛṣṭi-krama sequence around indriyas, devatās, and prajāpatis)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Agni
• Vāk (speech principle)

FAQs

What does this verse teach about Agni’s origin in the Garuda Purana?

It states that Agni (fire) is manifested by Brahmā from the principle connected with the sense of touch, showing a subtle-to-gross progression in creation.

Who is the “vāk-abhimānī” mentioned here?

It refers to the presiding power/deity of speech—the governing principle that “identifies with” and regulates vāk (speech) in the cosmic order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat speech as sacred and governed by a higher order—practice truthful, restrained, and purposeful speech, and recognize sensory discipline as foundational to inner clarity.