Shloka 25

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मुस्तामूचे पद्मसम्भवः / प्रशाम्यते तेजसैव तपस्तेजस्त्वनेन वै

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ jagmustāmūce padmasambhavaḥ / praśāmyate tejasaiva tapastejastvanena vai

Translation

Sie suchten Zuflucht bei Brahmā. Da sprach Padmasambhava (Brahmā) zu ihnen: „Nur durch überlegenen Glanz wird Glanz besänftigt; und eben dadurch wird auch die feurige Kraft, die aus Tapas (Askese) geboren ist, beruhigt.“

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘शरणं गम्’ इत्युपपदप्रयोगः (as refuge)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ताम्: to him/that one (Brahmā)
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पद्मसम्भवः: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• पद्मसम्भवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पद्मात् सम्भवः (born from the lotus)

• प्रशाम्यते: is pacified/ceases
• प्रशाम्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; उपसर्गः प्र-; अर्थः ‘शाम्यति’ (is pacified/ceases)

• तेजसा: by splendor/power
• तेजसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle) = emphatic (indeed/only)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम्

• तेजः: splendor/power
• तेजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle) = contrastive (but/however)

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (by this)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle) = emphatic (indeed)

Speaker

Brahmā (Padmasambhava)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tejas (radiant power) is countered and calmed by superior tejas; tapas-born fire is pacified through a higher, regulating radiance.

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of powers: lower energies are harmonized by higher sattvic intelligence; governance of śakti through buddhi and divine order.

Application: When confronted by overwhelming intensity (anger, obsession, fanaticism), apply a higher ‘radiance’: clarity, discernment, and disciplined spiritual practice to cool and regulate it.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions where tapas/tejas is potent yet requires regulation by higher authority or dharma

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Padmasambhava)

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas-tejas (the power of austerity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights tapas-tejas as a real, potent force that can intensify and disturb, requiring conscious pacification under higher divine order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches that subtle forces (like tejas generated by discipline or austerity) operate under cosmic regulation—an idea central to how the Purana frames unseen results (adr̥ṣṭa) affecting beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice spiritual disciplines with balance: intensity should be guided by discernment and humility, seeking higher counsel (guru/śāstra) to avoid harmful extremes.