Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

नरनारायणो देवो वासुदेवो निरञ्जनः / परमात्मा परं ब्रह्म जगज्जनिलयादिकृत्

Transliteration

naranārāyaṇo devo vāsudevo nirañjanaḥ / paramātmā paraṃ brahma jagajjanilayādikṛt

Translation

Er ist der göttliche Nara-Nārāyaṇa; Er ist Vāsudeva, der Makellose — das höchste Selbst, das höchste Brahman, der Urheber von Entstehung, Auflösung und allem anderen der Welt.

Word by Word

• नरनारायणः: Nara and Nārāyaṇa (as one deity)
• नरनारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वसुदेवस्य पुत्रः/सम्बन्धी)

• निरञ्जनः: stainless, untainted
• निरञ्जनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जगत्: of the world
• जगत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (समासे पूर्वपदम्)

• जनि: of birth/origin
• जनि: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (समासे पूर्वपदम्)

• लय: of dissolution
• लय: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (समासे पूर्वपदम्)

• आदि: etc., and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (समासे पूर्वपदम्)

• कृत्: maker/creator (of the world’s creation, dissolution, etc.)
• कृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कृत् (कृदन्त, कर्तरि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—कृत् (कर्तरि), ‘कर्ता/निर्माता’; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: जगज्जनिलयादीनां कर्ता

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu/Nara-Nārāyaṇa/Vāsudeva as Niranjana Paramātman and Parabrahman, the cause of creation, dissolution, and maintenance.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as jagat-kāraṇa (abhinna-nimitta-upādāna) and the identity of Īśvara with the Absolute.

Application: Contemplate the divine names as pointers to the attributeless Self; cultivate steadiness and surrender by remembering the Lord as the source and end of all processes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khaṇḍa/Ācāra sections): Vāsudeva as supreme cause (general opening eulogies)

Characters & Entities

• Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• Vāsudeva
• Paramātmā
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of identifying Vāsudeva as Paramātmā and Parabrahman in the Garuda Purana?

This verse establishes Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva) as the supreme, stainless Reality—both the indwelling Self (Paramātmā) and the highest Absolute (Parabrahman)—forming the theological basis for later teachings on dharma, karma, and liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

By declaring the Supreme as the controller of cosmic origination and dissolution, the verse frames the soul’s journey (saṃsāra and release) under the governance of the Paramātmā, toward whom devotion and right knowledge ultimately lead.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate purity (nirañjanatā) through ethical living and remembrance of the indwelling Lord, aligning actions with dharma while keeping the highest aim—mokṣa—centered on the Supreme Self.