Shloka 29

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

यदा हि शेते प्रलयार्णवे विभुर्जीवांश्च सर्वानुदरे निवेश्य / मुक्तांश्च ब्रह्मेन्द्रमरुद्गणादीन्प्रात्पव्यमुक्तींश्च सुतौ? च संस्थितान्

Transliteration

yadā hi śete pralayārṇave vibhurjīvāṃśca sarvānudare niveśya / muktāṃśca brahmendramarudgaṇādīnprātpavyamuktīṃśca sutau? ca saṃsthitān

Translation

عند زمن الانحلال (البرالايا) يضطجع الربّ القادر على كلّ شيء على محيط البرالايا، فيجذب جميع الكائنات الحيّة إلى جوفه؛ وفي ذاته يحتضن حتى المُتحرّرين—براهما وإندرا وجموع الماروت—وكذلك من لم يبلغوا الموكشا بعد، جميعهم قائمون فيه.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: ‘when’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• शेते: lies / rests
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रलय-अर्णवे: in the ocean of dissolution
• प्रलय-अर्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रलयस्य अर्णवः’); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• विभुः: the all-pervading Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जीवान्: living beings
• जीवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘जीवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• उदरे: in (his) belly
• उदरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (स्थान)

• निवेश्य: having placed
• निवेश्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निवेश्य (कृदन्त; √विश् धातु, नि-उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (absolutive: ‘having placed/caused to enter’)

• मुक्तान्: the liberated (souls)
• मुक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त; √मुच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘मुक्त’ = liberated ones; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-मरुद्गण-आदीन्: Brahmā, Indra, the Marut hosts, and others
• ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-मरुद्गण-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मरुद्गण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (enumerative); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ अन्तेन ‘and others’

• प्राप्तव्य-मुक्तीन्: those (states) of liberation to be attained
• प्राप्तव्य-मुक्तीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राप्तव्य (कृदन्त; √प्राप् धातु) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘प्राप्तव्या मुक्ति:’/‘प्राप्तव्यस्य मुक्ति:’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; (पाठे ‘प्रात्पव्यमुक्तींश्च’ इति दूषितम्—अर्थतः ‘प्राप्तव्य-मुक्तीन्/मुक्तीः’)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• सुतौ?: (unclear reading)
• सुतौ?: Unclear (अस्पष्ट)
• Type: Noun
• Root: (पाठदोष/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: अस्पष्ट-पाठः; सम्भाव्यं ‘सुतौ’ (द्विवचन, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा) वा अन्यत्—निश्चितं न शक्यते

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• संस्थितान्: situated / kept
• संस्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘(तान्)…’ इत्यर्थे कर्मपद-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All jīvas, including devas and even those termed ‘liberated’, are ultimately contained in the Supreme during pralaya; the Lord is the final āśraya (support) beyond states.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Nārāyaṇa as upādāna-nimitta-kāraṇa; laya (dissolution) into the Supreme; supremacy of Īśvara as the ground of all states.

Application: Cultivate remembrance of Viṣṇu as the ultimate refuge; reduce fear of dissolution/death by contemplating the Lord as the container and protector of all beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khaṇḍa) cosmology passages on pralaya and Nārāyaṇa’s yoganidrā; Garuda Purana sections praising Viṣṇu as sarvādhāra and sarva-śaraṇa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Indra
• Maruts

FAQs

What is the importance of pralaya (cosmic dissolution) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pralaya as a re-absorption of all beings into Vishnu, emphasizing that the cosmos and all jīvas rest in the Supreme during dissolution.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It distinguishes between muktas (already liberated) and prāptavya-muktis (those yet to attain liberation), yet states that both ultimately abide in Vishnu during pralaya—highlighting the Supreme as the final ground of all states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and devotion: even the highest statuses (like Indra) are transient, while steady remembrance of the Supreme supports a moksha-oriented life.