Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

गायन्तो जज्ञिरे वाचं गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्च ये / स्वर्गं द्यौर्वक्षसश्चक्रे सुखतो ऽजाः स मुष्टवान्

Transliteration

gāyanto jajñire vācaṃ gandharvāpsarasaśca ye / svargaṃ dyaurvakṣasaścakre sukhato 'jāḥ sa muṣṭavān

Translation

Aus der kosmischen Stimme (Vāc) wurden die Sänger geboren—Gandharvas und Apsaras. Aus Seiner Brust formte Er svarga, den Himmel; aus Seinem Mund entstanden die Ziegen—Er, der Herr, der alles besitzt.

Word by Word

• गायन्तः: singing
• गायन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जज्ञिरे: were born
• जज्ञिरे: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• वाचम्: speech/voice
• वाचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (गन्धर्वाश्च अप्सरसश्च)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्यौः: the sky
• द्यौः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वक्षसः: from the chest
• वक्षसः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अपादान)

• चक्रे: made/created
• चक्रे: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सुखतः: easily/pleasantly
• सुखतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुखतः (अव्यय; सुख+तस्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: ‘from/according to pleasure’, ‘easily’)

• अजाः: goats
• अजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुष्टवान्: having a fist/handful (fistful)
• मुष्टवान्: Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुष्टि + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation proceeds from śabda/vāk (cosmic speech) and from the divine body as symbolic loci; sound is a primary principle of manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-brahman as a doorway to para-brahman; nāda/śruti as structuring reality (a puranic articulation of a Vedic intuition).

Application: Use mantra, kīrtana, and disciplined speech to align mind with cosmic order; treat music as sāttvic uplift rather than mere entertainment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising nāma-saṅkīrtana and the sanctity of Vāk (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of Vāc (cosmic speech) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vāc as a creative principle—through divine speech arise celestial arts and joy, symbolized by Gandharvas and Apsarases.

How does this verse explain the structure of the cosmos?

It uses the ‘cosmic body’ model: heaven (svarga/dyauḥ) is described as formed from the Lord’s chest, indicating an ordered, sacred origin of realms and beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat speech as sacred: truthful, harmonious words cultivate upliftment—mirroring how ‘right speech’ is portrayed as a source of higher, refined qualities.