Shloka 11

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

मोक्षाधिकारिणामेव ज्ञानैश्वर्यादयो गणाः / तेषामाच्छादिका होका तमोङ्गा सा प्रकीर्तिता

Transliteration

mokṣādhikāriṇāmeva jñānaiśvaryādayo gaṇāḥ / teṣāmācchādikā hokā tamoṅgā sā prakīrtitā

Translation

Nur diejenigen, die zur Befreiung (mokṣa) befähigt sind, besitzen wahrhaft die Eigenschaften, die mit Erkenntnis und geistiger Souveränität beginnen. Für sie heißt es, der verhüllende Zustand (ācchādikā) sei aus tamas gebildet—Dunkelheit und Unwissenheit.

Word by Word

• mokṣa-adhikāriṇām: of those entitled to liberation
• mokṣa-adhikāriṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhikārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: mokṣe adhikāriṇaḥ

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta

• jñāna-aiśvarya-ādayaḥ: knowledge, sovereignty, etc.
• jñāna-aiśvarya-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana; dvandva list: ‘knowledge, lordship, etc.’ (ādayaḥ = and others)

• gaṇāḥ: groups/sets
• gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m./n. pronoun), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana

• ācchādikā: the veiling (one)
• ācchādikā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√chad (धातु) → ācchādikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agent-noun/derivative: ‘covering/veiling’

• hokā: (reading uncertain)
• hokā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hokā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; pāṭha uncertain (possibly lokā/hoḍā etc.)

• tamaḥ-aṅgā: having darkness as its constituent
• tamaḥ-aṅgā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘whose limbs/constituents are darkness’

• sā: she/that (one)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• prakīrtitā: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitā: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kīrt (धातु) → prakīrtitā (कृदन्त, PPP)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; PPP (क्त): ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Moksha-adhikara: only the qualified manifest jnana and aisvarya; the veiling power is tamas-born obscuration (avarana).

Vedantic Theme: Avidya as tamas/avarana that covers the Self; adhikara-bheda (eligibility) for liberation through sattva-shuddhi and jnana.

Application: Cultivate sattva via ethical living, study, and meditation; identify tamasic states (inertia, confusion) as veiling and counter them with disciplined inquiry and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda/Adhyatma sections): discussions of avidya, guna-avarana, and moksha-adhikara (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Tamas
• Moksha

FAQs

What is the importance of moksha-adhikara (eligibility for liberation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that qualities like true knowledge and spiritual mastery meaningfully belong to those fit for liberation, implying that moksha requires inner qualification, not merely external identity or ritual.

How does this verse explain what blocks liberation?

It identifies a veiling condition rooted in tamas—ignorance, inertia, and spiritual darkness—as what obscures the liberating qualities and prevents clear realization.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattvic habits and study that increase clarity (jnana), and reduce tamasic tendencies like negligence, intoxication, and cruelty—so the mind becomes fit for discernment and liberation-oriented living.