Shloka 7

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

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

अवतारमिदं प्रोक्तं पूर्णत्वादेव सुव्रत / अनेको ह्येकतां प्राप्य संशेते प्रलयाय वै

Transliteration

avatāramidaṃ proktaṃ pūrṇatvādeva suvrata / aneko hyekatāṃ prāpya saṃśete pralayāya vai

Translation

O du mit guten Gelübden, dieses Herabsteigen (avatāra) ist aufgrund von Fülle und Vollkommenheit beschrieben worden. Denn das Viele, zur Einheit gelangt, ruht wahrlich und harrt der pralaya, der Auflösung.

Word by Word

• अवतारम्: incarnation
• अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम, विशेषणम् (points to avatāra)

• प्रोक्तम्: has been declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘said/declared’

• पूर्णत्वात्: because of fullness/completeness
• पूर्णत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (-त्व)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic/only/indeed)

• सुव्रत: O good-vowed one
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—सु + व्रत (यस्य व्रतं सु, ‘one of good vows’)

• अनेकः: the many (one)
• अनेकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (subject)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम्

• एकताम्: oneness
• एकताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अन्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having attained)

• संशेते: lies/rests
• संशेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शि (धातु, शे/शयने) + सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रलयाय: for dissolution (pralaya)
• प्रलयाय: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• वै: certainly
• वै: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—एव/खलु (certainly)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avatāra is taught as arising from pūrṇatva (fullness); multiplicity resolves into oneness and rests awaiting pralaya—suggesting unity underlying the many.

Vedantic Theme: Bheda resolves into abheda at cosmic dissolution; pūrṇatva of the Supreme remains unaffected by manifestation and withdrawal.

Application: Contemplate unity behind diversity; reduce egoic fragmentation by aligning actions and identity with the ‘one’ (eka-tattva) through meditation, devotion, and ethical coherence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pralaya descriptions and cyclical time teachings; Garuda Purana: avatāra-kathā framing in Brahma-khanda

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pralaya

FAQs

What is the importance of avatāra in this Garuda Purana verse?

It frames avatāra as a teaching grounded in pūrṇatva (wholeness), indicating divine manifestation is explained from the standpoint of completeness rather than limitation.

How does this verse explain pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?

It says the ‘many’ (aneka) resolve into ‘oneness’ (ekatā) and then rest (saṃśete), portraying pralaya as re-absorption into unity rather than mere destruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with steadiness and ethics (suvrata), remembering diversity is transient and ultimately grounded in unity—reducing ego, conflict, and attachment.