Shloka 7

From Brahman to the Elements: Subtle–Gross Body, Prāṇa, States of Consciousness, and Mahāvākya Realization

Devanagari script

लोकप्रसिद्धं स्थूलाख्यं शरीरं चरणादिमत् / पञ्चीकृतानि भूतानि तत्कार्यं तत्स्थमेव च

Transliteration

lokaprasiddhaṃ sthūlākhyaṃ śarīraṃ caraṇādimat / pañcīkṛtāni bhūtāni tatkāryaṃ tatsthameva ca

Translation

Der in der Welt bekannte Körper, „grober Körper“ genannt, ist mit Füßen und anderen Gliedern versehen. Er ist das Erzeugnis der fünf Elemente nach dem pañcīkaraṇa und verweilt in eben diesen Elementen.

Word by Word

• लोकप्रसिद्धम्: well-known in the world
• लोकप्रसिद्धम्: Visheshana (Adjective of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसिद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (लोके प्रसिद्धम्)

• स्थूलाख्यम्: called ‘gross’
• स्थूलाख्यम्: Visheshana (Adjective of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (स्थूलम् आख्यं यस्य/यत्)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• चरणादिमत्: having feet and other limbs
• चरणादिमत्: Visheshana (Adjective of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (चरणादि यस्य तत्) + मतुप्-अर्थ (possessive)

• पञ्चीकृतानि: quintuplicated
• पञ्चीकृतानि: Visheshana (Adjective of भूतानि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चीकृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भूतानि: elements
• भूतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कार्यम्: effect/product
• कार्यम्: Predicate nominal (समास/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्थम्: situated/abiding
• स्थम्: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्था-धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; कृदन्त (स्थ-प्रत्यय/निष्ठा-भाव) अर्थः ‘स्थित’

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

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The gross body (sthūla-śarīra), with limbs, is the effect of pañcīkṛta bhūtas and remains dependent on them.

Vedantic Theme: Dehātma-bhrānti-nivṛtti (removal of body-as-self error) by seeing the body as a composite effect; dependence (āśraya-āśrayī-bhāva) of effect on material cause.

Application: Contemplate the body as earth-water-fire-air-ether to reduce egoic clinging; adopt mindful care without identification; reflect on impermanence and elemental return (death/decay) to cultivate vairāgya.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.6 (pañcīkaraṇa); Garuda Purana 1.239.8 (threefold body; resting in Supreme)

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘gross body’ (sthūla-śarīra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the gross body as the commonly perceived, limb-bearing physical form, emphasizing that it is an elemental product—useful for understanding embodiment and the body’s perishable nature.

How does this verse explain what the body is made of?

It states that the physical body arises from the five great elements after pañcīkaraṇa (a specific fivefold mixing), and that the body remains dependent on those elements—highlighting its material basis.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seeing the body as elemental and temporary supports detachment, ethical living, and disciplined care of the body without mistaking it for the true self.