Shloka 49

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

कारणं महतश्चैव प्रधानस्य च कारणम् / बुद्धीनां कारणं चैव कारणं मनसस्तथा

Transliteration

kāraṇaṃ mahataścaiva pradhānasya ca kāraṇam / buddhīnāṃ kāraṇaṃ caiva kāraṇaṃ manasastathā

Translation

Er ist die Ursache von Mahat (kosmischer Intellekt) und ebenso die Ursache von Pradhāna (Urnatur). Er ist auch die Ursache der buddhi (Intellekte) und ebenso die Ursache des manas (Geistes).

Word by Word

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Pradhana-predication (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• महतः: of Mahat (cosmic intellect)
• महतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सांख्य-तत्त्वे ‘महत्’), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• प्रधानस्य: of Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सांख्ये), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Pradhana-predication (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• बुद्धीनाम्: of intellects; of cognitions
• बुद्धीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th case), बहुवचन

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Pradhana-predication (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Pradhana-predication (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• मनसः: of the mind
• मनसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th case), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is the ultimate cause behind Mahat, Pradhāna, buddhi(s), and manas.

Vedantic Theme: Kāraṇa-kārya-viveka (discriminating cause and effect); Brahman/Īśvara as the ground of prakṛti and its evolutes.

Application: Contemplate the chain of causation to loosen identification with mind/intellect; practice viveka: ‘I am not buddhi/manas; they arise from a higher cause’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: cosmology/tattva enumeration passages in early Brahma-khanda chapters describing Mahat, ahaṅkāra, tanmātras, bhūtas

Characters & Entities

• Mahat
• Pradhana
• Buddhi
• Manas

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat and Pradhana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Mahat (cosmic intellect) and Pradhāna (primordial nature) as effects dependent on a higher cause, grounding Garuda Purana cosmology in a causal hierarchy central to understanding creation and the subtle-body framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying mind (manas) and intellect (buddhi) as caused principles, it implies the soul’s embodied experience operates through produced instruments; liberation-oriented teaching often proceeds by discerning the soul’s distinction from these causal layers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the insight to cultivate detachment: observe mind and intellect as conditioned tools rather than the self, supporting steadier ethics, reduced reactivity, and more deliberate spiritual practice.