Shloka 6

An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord

Devanagari script

आद्यो ब्रह्मा स विज्ञेयो न तु साक्षाद्धरिः स्वयम् / तमसापि समान्हन्तुं रुद्रे च प्राविशद्धरिः

Transliteration

ādyo brahmā sa vijñeyo na tu sākṣāddhariḥ svayam / tamasāpi samānhantuṃ rudre ca prāviśaddhariḥ

Translation

Erkennet den Erstgeborenen als Brahmā; doch er ist nicht Hari (Viṣṇu) selbst in Person. Und um selbst Tamas—Finsternis und Unwissen—zu zügeln und zu bezwingen, ging Hari auch in Rudra (Śiva) ein.

Word by Word

• आद्यः: primeval, first
• आद्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ब्रह्मा)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahma
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विज्ञेयः: is to be known (as)
• विज्ञेयः: Kriya (क्रियावाच्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्यः’ (to be known)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (but)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Adhikarana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (directly)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (स्वकर्तृ-निदर्शन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (himself)

• तमसा: by/with tamas (darkness)
• तमसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-अव्यय (also/even)

• सम्-आ-हन्तुम्: to destroy/annihilate
• सम्-आ-हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक-उद्देश्य; ‘to strike/destroy completely’

• रुद्रे: in Rudra
• रुद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• प्राविशत्: entered
• प्राविशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmā is a created first-born and not Hari Himself; Hari’s immanence operates through Rudra to restrain tamas while remaining distinct.

Vedantic Theme: Bheda-abheda nuance: īśvara’s transcendence with functional immanence (antaryāmitva) without collapsing identities.

Application: Maintain clear discernment between the Supreme (Viṣṇu/Hari) and empowered cosmic offices; cultivate sattva by recognizing tamas as something to be restrained under divine order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.7-3.4.10 (continuation on Rudra/Brahmā as manifested forms and guṇa-entry)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Tamas

FAQs

What is the importance of distinguishing Brahmā from Hari (Viṣṇu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse clarifies hierarchy and identity: Brahmā is the first-born creator, while Hari is the supreme sustaining principle, not to be conflated as the same person.

How does this verse explain the role of tamas in spiritual or cosmic order?

It presents tamas as a force that must be restrained for cosmic balance, and depicts Hari’s governance as extending even through Rudra to subdue darkness and disorder.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clarity (sattva) over inertia (tamas): reduce negligence and confusion through disciplined conduct, study, and ethical living, recognizing that order is sustained through higher guidance.