Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

अस्ति पुण्यतमा ज्ञेया लोकसंसारनाशिनी / एवं चतुर्मुखेनैव तदा हृष्यं ति चाण्डज

Transliteration

asti puṇyatamā jñeyā lokasaṃsāranāśinī / evaṃ caturmukhenaiva tadā hṛṣyaṃ ti cāṇḍaja

Translation

Es gibt eine höchst verdienstvolle Lehre/Übung, die man kennen soll—sie vernichtet die weltliche Bindung und den Kreislauf der Wiedergeburten. Als der viergesichtige Brahmā so sprach, frohlockte der Eiergeborene, Garuḍa.

Word by Word

• asti: there is/exists
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘अस्ति’ = exists/is

• puṇyatamā: most holy
• puṇyatamā: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya-tama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative): अत्यन्तपुण्या (most holy)

• jñeyā: to be known
• jñeyā: Vidhi (विधेय/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धाातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञेया’ = ज्ञातव्या (to be known)

• loka-saṃsāra-nāśinī: destroyer of worldly bondage
• loka-saṃsāra-nāśinī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: लोकसंसारस्य नाशिनी (destroyer of worldly transmigration)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक

• caturmukhena: by the four-faced (Brahmā)
• caturmukhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur-mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य (the four-faced one, i.e., Brahmā)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (only/indeed)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• hṛṣyati: rejoices
• hṛṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛṣ (हृष् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘हृष्यति’ = प्रहृष्यति (rejoices)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• aṇḍaja: O egg-born one (Garuda)
• aṇḍaja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṇḍa-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अण्डात् जातः (egg-born); here vocative address

Speaker

Narrator (referring to Brahmā speaking and Garuḍa’s reaction)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A highest puṇya-bearing knowledge/practice that destroys loka-bandhana and the cycle of rebirth.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-nivṛtti through liberating upāya; movement from pravṛtti (worldly entanglement) to nivṛtti (release).

Application: Seek and internalize the liberating teaching from a competent source; orient life toward practices that cut saṃsāra (e.g., śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana and Hari-smaraṇa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Moksha/Upadesha sections): recurring motif of saṃsāra-nāśa via Hari-bhakti and jñāna; Garuda Purana: discussions on subtle body (liṅga-śarīra) and liberation in proximity to Virajā references

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of a ‘lokasaṃsāra-nāśinī’ teaching in the Garuda Purana?

It signals a highest-grade spiritual instruction or practice regarded as capable of cutting worldly attachment and ending repeated birth—aimed at liberation rather than mere worldly merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing knowledge of a supreme, merit-bearing principle that destroys saṃsāra, it points to liberation as the ultimate resolution of the soul’s repeated journey through births.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize life-choices that reduce attachment and increase clarity—study sacred teachings, practice ethical discipline, and pursue inner purification with the aim of freedom from compulsive desire and fear.