Shloka 10

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

हराद्दशगुणैरेवं समन्तात्परिवारितम् / पञ्चमावरणं ज्ञेयमहङ्काराख्यमेवच

Transliteration

harāddaśaguṇairevaṃ samantātparivāritam / pañcamāvaraṇaṃ jñeyamahaṅkārākhyamevaca

Translation

So ist es ringsum von zehn Eigenschaften umschlossen, beginnend mit dem Klang; dies ist als die fünfte Umhüllung (āvaraṇa) zu verstehen, genannt Ahaṅkāra (das Ich‑Prinzip).

Word by Word

• हरात्: from Hara (Śiva)
• हरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• दशगुणैः: by tenfold measures
• दशगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशगुण (प्रातिपदिक; दश + गुण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (परिवारितम् इत्यस्य)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• परिवारितम्: is surrounded/encircled
• परिवारितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √वृ (धातु) → परिवारित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अस्ति इति अध्याहार्य)

• पञ्चम: fifth
• पञ्चम: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (आवरणम् इत्यस्य)

• आवरणम्: covering, sheath
• आवरणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आदेश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधिलिङ्गार्थक तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/‘to be known’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अहङ्काराख्यम्: called ‘ahaṅkāra’
• अहङ्काराख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहङ्कार + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; अहङ्कार + आख्य ‘named’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (आवरणम्/पञ्चमावरणम् इत्यस्य)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahaṅkāra functions as a cosmic covering; the ‘I-maker’ principle encloses and conditions experience.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-upādhi: ego as limiting adjunct; viveka between ātman (witness) and ahaṅkāra (instrument).

Application: Self-inquiry: notice ‘I’ thoughts as objects; practice witnessing (sākṣī-bhāva) to loosen identification with roles, status, and narratives.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tattva-āvaraṇa (subtle principle covering)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.10.11 (mahat as next enclosure); Garuda Purana 3.10.12 (triguṇa covering beyond)

Characters & Entities

• Ahaṅkāra
• Guṇas
• Tanmātras

FAQs

What is the importance of ahaṅkāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies ahaṅkāra as a distinct “covering” (āvaraṇa) that encloses consciousness with qualities, explaining how the sense of “I” functions as a binding layer in the subtle constitution.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing the ego-covering surrounded by multiple qualities, it implies that the jīva experiences the after-death journey through subtle layers (like ahaṅkāra and sense-qualities), not merely through the gross body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivating humility and self-observation weakens ahaṅkāra, making one’s actions less ego-driven and more aligned with dharma—supporting clearer discernment in life and calmer transition at death.