Shloka 24

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

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

दैत्यस्थितानां बिंबानां मूलरूपस्य वै प्रभोः / परस्परं तथा भेदं ह्यन्तरं वा न चिन्तयेत्

Transliteration

daityasthitānāṃ biṃbānāṃ mūlarūpasya vai prabhoḥ / parasparaṃ tathā bhedaṃ hyantaraṃ vā na cintayet

Translation

O Herr, hinsichtlich der widergespiegelten Gestalten (pratibimba), die unter den Daityas erscheinen, soll man weder über gegenseitige Unterschiede spekulieren noch über eine innere Abweichung von der Urgestalt nachdenken.

Word by Word

• दैत्यस्थितानाम्: of those situated in the Daityas
• दैत्यस्थितानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘स्थित’ = क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) from √स्था; दैत्येषु स्थिताः (those situated in Daityas)

• बिंबानाम्: of the images/reflections
• बिंबानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिंब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मूलरूपस्य: of the original form
• मूलरूपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘original form’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; emphasis

• प्रभोः: of the Lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्पर-भावे adverb (‘mutually’)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb (‘thus/so’)

• भेदम्: difference
• भेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle

• अन्तरम्: inner distinction
• अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात/particle of alternative

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

• चिन्तयेत्: should think/consider
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratibimba–bimba viveka: do not posit real difference among reflected forms, nor between reflection and original at the level of tattva.

Vedantic Theme: Abheda (non-difference) and māyā-upādhi: apparent plurality does not touch the मूलरूप (parama-rūpa).

Application: Avoid sectarian or form-based quarrels; contemplate unity behind diverse appearances; restrain speculative doubt (śaṅkā) and cultivate steady discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.25; Garuda Purana 3.2.28

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Prabhu (Lord)

FAQs

What is the importance of the bimba (original) and pratibimba (reflection) idea in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that apparent forms are like reflections of the one original reality; spiritual understanding grows by not obsessing over perceived differences among appearances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or spiritual vision?

By discouraging fixation on external distinctions, it points the seeker toward stable discernment—seeing the Lord’s underlying unity rather than being misled by changing forms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice non-reactivity to appearances—avoid needless comparisons and sectarianism, and focus on the shared essence of dharma, devotion, and inner transformation.