Shloka 9

Devanagari script

रक्तवाहिशिरास्थानरक्तजा जन्तवो ऽणवः / अपादा वृत्तताम्राश्च सौक्ष्म्यात्केचिददर्शनाः

Transliteration

raktavāhiśirāsthānaraktajā jantavo 'ṇavaḥ / apādā vṛttatāmrāśca saukṣmyātkecidadarśanāḥ

Translation

Winzige Wesen entstehen aus dem Blut, das in den Bahnen der blutführenden Adern verweilt; sie sind fußlos, rund und kupferfarben, und manche bleiben wegen äußerster Feinheit unsichtbar.

Word by Word

• रक्त-वाहि-शिरा-स्थान-रक्तजाः: blood-born in the sites of blood-carrying veins
• रक्त-वाहि-शिरा-स्थान-रक्तजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्तज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; रक्तज = रक्तात् जात (blood-born)

• जन्तवः: creatures, organisms
• जन्तवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• अणवः: minute
• अणवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• अपादाः: footless
• अपादाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थे (a- privative)

• वृत्त-ताम्राः: round and copper-colored
• वृत्त-ताम्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• सौक्ष्म्यात्: due to minuteness
• सौक्ष्म्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौक्ष्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (अनिर्दिष्ट-रूपम्: 'some')

• अदर्शनाः: invisible, not seen
• अदर्शनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थे (a- privative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reality includes imperceptible agents; knowledge must account for the subtle (sūkṣma) beyond ordinary sight.

Vedantic Theme: Sūkṣma-vicāra: the seen world rests on unseen causes; encourages humility and discernment.

Application: Respect unseen causes of illness (infection/parasites); adopt preventive measures even when no visible sign is present.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: internal bodily channels (srotas/śirā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.165.5-8 (krimi origins, forms, effects)

FAQs

What is the importance of subtle creatures in Garuda Purana?

They illustrate that suffering and disease can be linked to unseen, subtle causes—supporting the Purana’s broader karmic and physiological worldview.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It reinforces that embodied life is a field where karma operates through fine, often unseen mechanisms, shaping experience while the soul remains the witness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate cleanliness, disciplined living, and timely treatment for illness while remembering that unseen factors—physical and moral—can influence well-being.