Shloka 17

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

एकांशेन तु जीवत्वे संस्थिता नात्र संशयः / बिंबमूलं न जानन्ति ते जना ह्यसुराः स्मृताः

Transliteration

ekāṃśena tu jīvatve saṃsthitā nātra saṃśayaḥ / biṃbamūlaṃ na jānanti te janā hyasurāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Durch einen einzigen Anteil (des Höchsten) bestehen die Wesen als Jīvas — daran ist kein Zweifel. Wer die Wurzelquelle der Spiegelung (die ursprüngliche Wirklichkeit hinter dem scheinbaren Selbst) nicht erkennt, gilt wahrlich als Asura.

Word by Word

• एकांशेन: by one part/portion
• एकांशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकांश (प्रातिपदिक: एक + अंश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (एकस्य अंशः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• जीवत्वे: in the state of jīva-hood
• जीवत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवत्व (प्रातिपदिक: जीव + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• संस्थिता: are situated
• संस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective to implied entity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु with सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘situated/established’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता; of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बिंबमूलम्: the source of the original (bimba)
• बिंबमूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिंबमूल (प्रातिपदिक: बिंब + मूल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बिंबस्य मूलम्)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• जानन्ति: know
• जानन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘people’ (apposition to ते)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphasis/causal: indeed/for)

• असुराः: asuras/demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said to be
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are called/considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jīva-hood as an aṁśa-based condition; ignorance of the मूल (root/source) of the reflection leads to asuric identification with the appearance alone.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as root of misidentification; necessity of knowing the ādhāra (Hari/Brahman) behind the apparent self; daiva/asura as epistemic-ethical orientation.

Application: Practice self-inquiry and śāstra-guided reflection to trace ‘I’ back to its source; reduce egoic absolutizing; cultivate humility and devotion to the मूल (Hari).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.16 (viśeṣa and eka-aṁśa); Garuda Purana 3.2.18 (one Hari appears many through avidyā)

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Jiva

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing the 'bimbamūla' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames liberation-oriented knowledge as recognizing the original source behind the reflected sense of self; lacking this root-knowledge is described as an asuric (spiritually deluded) condition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that the jīva’s journey is shaped by knowledge or ignorance: seeing oneself as merely the reflection (ego-bound identity) sustains delusion, while knowing the source aligns the soul toward truth and dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-inquiry and dharmic living—study, reflection, and disciplined conduct—to reduce ego-identification and remember the deeper source of consciousness behind changing mental states.