Shloka 60

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

कारणं वीरुधां चैव लोकानां कारणं तथा / पाताल कारणं चैव देवानां कारणं तथा

Transliteration

kāraṇaṃ vīrudhāṃ caiva lokānāṃ kāraṇaṃ tathā / pātāla kāraṇaṃ caiva devānāṃ kāraṇaṃ tathā

Translation

Er ist wahrlich die Ursache der Pflanzen und Ranken und ebenso die Ursache der Welten; Er ist auch die Ursache von Pātāla (den Unterwelten) und gleichermaßen die Ursache der Devas.

Word by Word

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• वीरुधाम्: of the creepers/plants
• वीरुधाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरुध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'likewise/also' (adverb)

• पाताल: Pātāla (netherworld)
• पाताल: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; (पाठे 'पाताल(म्)' इति प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-रूपं)

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'likewise/also' (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The supreme cause transcends and includes all realms—organic life, multiple worlds, nether regions, and gods.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin (inner ruler) of all lokas; unity of cause despite hierarchical cosmography.

Application: Use ‘loka-smaraṇa’ contemplation: whatever realm or status one imagines (low/high), all are dependent—supporting humility and steadiness in success/failure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realms

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.58-59, 1.15.61-62 (same doctrinal chain)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• Patala
• Lokas

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu being called the 'cause' (kāraṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse affirms Vishnu as the universal originating principle behind all levels of existence—from vegetation to the celestial Devas and even the nether realms—supporting a unified, theistic cosmology.

How does this verse explain the structure of the universe (lokas) in the Garuda Purana?

By naming plants, the worlds (lokas), Pātāla, and the Devas together, the verse indicates that all realms—lower, middle, and higher—arise from one supreme causal source rather than independent origins.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate reverence for all forms of life and all beings as rooted in one divine source; this supports ethical living (ahiṃsā, restraint) and devotion (bhakti) rather than pride in status or realm.