Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

अहङ्काराद्दशगुणं समन्तात्परिवारितम् / सप्तमावरणं प्रोक्तं त्रिगुणावरणं प्रभो

Transliteration

ahaṅkārāddaśaguṇaṃ samantātparivāritam / saptamāvaraṇaṃ proktaṃ triguṇāvaraṇaṃ prabho

Translation

Jenseits des Ahaṅkāra ist es ringsum von einer Hülle umschlossen, die zehnfach an Maß ist. Dies wird als die siebte Umhüllung (āvaraṇa) verkündet—der Schleier aus den drei Guṇas, o Herr.

Word by Word

• अहङ्कारात्: from ahaṅkāra (ego-principle)
• अहङ्कारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• दशगुणम्: tenfold (in extent)
• दशगुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशगुण (प्रातिपदिक; दश + गुण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण (परिवारितम् इत्यस्य/आवरणस्य)

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

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

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

• आवरणम्: covering
• आवरणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रिगुणावरणम्: the covering of the three guṇas
• त्रिगुणावरणम्: Samjna (संज्ञा/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + गुण + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + गुण + आवरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (सप्तमावरणस्य नाम)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The three guṇas constitute a covering that conditions all experience; liberation involves transcending guṇa-identification.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇātīta ideal: moving beyond sattva-rajas-tamas through knowledge and devotion; prakṛti as upādhi over pure consciousness.

Application: Observe guṇa-states daily (clarity/restlessness/inertia); reduce rajas-tamas through discipline and simplicity; use sattva as a stepping-stone to detachment and contemplation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tattva-āvaraṇa (prakṛti/guṇa sheath)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.10.8-11 (preceding enclosures culminating in tri-guṇa sheath)

Characters & Entities

• Ahaṅkāra
• Triguṇa (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas)

FAQs

What is the importance of the triguṇa-āvaraṇa (three-guṇa covering) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the tri-guṇa covering as a major enclosure beyond ahaṅkāra, showing that even cosmic experience is conditioned by sattva, rajas, and tamas until transcendence is attained.

How does this verse explain the structure of reality according to the Garuda Purana?

It presents a layered cosmology: after the ego-principle (ahaṅkāra), there exists a further enclosure described as tenfold, and it is specifically named the seventh covering—formed from the three guṇas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discernment of how sattva, rajas, and tamas shape thoughts and actions; reducing rajas-tamas and stabilizing sattva supports inner clarity and progress toward liberation beyond guṇa-conditioning.