Shloka 15

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

(३)वैकारिकस्तृतीयस्तु सर्गस्त्वैन्द्रियकः स्मृतः / इत्येष प्राकृतः सर्गः सम्भूतो बुद्धिपूर्वकः

Transliteration

(3)vaikārikastṛtīyastu sargastvaindriyakaḥ smṛtaḥ / ityeṣa prākṛtaḥ sargaḥ sambhūto buddhipūrvakaḥ

Translation

Die dritte Schöpfung heißt Vaikārika (die verwandelnde) und gilt als aindriyaka, die Schöpfung der Sinne. So ist dies die Prākṛta-Schöpfung (materielle), hervorgebracht, wobei der Intellekt ihr Vorläufer ist.

Word by Word

• वैकारिकः: pertaining to vikāra (modification)
• वैकारिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तृतीयः: third
• तृतीयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed, and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• सर्गः: creation
• सर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• ऐन्द्रियकः: pertaining to the senses
• ऐन्द्रियकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्रियक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतः: is said (to be)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'is called/remembered'

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निपात (quotative)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्राकृतः: natural, primordial
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्गः: creation
• सर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्भूतः: arisen, produced
• सम्भूतः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'has arisen/has come into being'

• बुद्धि-पूर्वकः: preceded by intellect
• बुद्धि-पूर्वकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (बुद्ध्या पूर्वकः/बुद्धि-पूर्वः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The third (vaikārika) creation is the sensory (aindriyaka) emergence; prākṛta creation unfolds with intellect (buddhi/Mahat) preceding further manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumentality of antaḥkaraṇa and indriyas; knowing the senses as products of prakṛti supports disidentification of Self from instruments.

Application: Practice indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) by remembering senses are evolutes, not the Self; cultivate buddhi-led living (discernment before impulse).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic principle-level (indriya/tattva)

Cross References

Related Themes: Numbered sarga list continues: 1.4.14 (Mahat, tanmātras) → 1.4.16–17 (species/realms)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaikārika (aindriyaka) creation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the third stage of material creation as the emergence of the sensory order (indriyas), emphasizing how embodied experience begins through the development of sense-capacities.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stating that creation proceeds with buddhi (intellect) first and then the sensory domain, it outlines the metaphysical basis for embodiment—through which the jīva encounters karma via mind-intellect and senses.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Since sensory life is rooted in buddhi, cultivating discernment (buddhi) and restraint over the senses supports dharma and reduces karmic entanglement.