Shloka 25

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

कुक्षौ समुद्राश्चत्वारस्तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् / परः कालात्परो यज्ञात्परः सदसतश्चयः

Transliteration

kukṣau samudrāścatvārastaṃ devaṃ cintayāmyaham / paraḥ kālātparo yajñātparaḥ sadasataścayaḥ

Translation

I meditate upon that Divine One in whose womb abide the four oceans—He who is beyond Time, beyond sacrifice, and beyond the aggregate of the real and the unreal.

Word by Word

• कुक्षौ: in the belly
• कुक्षौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समुद्राः: oceans
• समुद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• चिन्तयामि: I contemplate
• चिन्तयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• परः: beyond, higher
• परः: Sambandha (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (he is beyond)

• कालात्: than/from time
• कालात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (from time)

• परः: beyond
• परः: Sambandha (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-विशेषणम्

• यज्ञात्: than/from sacrifice
• यज्ञात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• परः: beyond
• परः: Sambandha (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सत्: of being/real
• सत्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘सतः’ इत्यस्य पूर्वपद (of being)

• असतः: of non-being/unreal
• असतः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• चयः: aggregate, collection
• चयः: Sambandha (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (he is the aggregate/collection)

Speaker

Narrator/Devotee voice (invocatory praise within the text; not a direct Vishnu–Garuda dialogue line)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord contains the four oceans and yet is beyond time (kāla), beyond sacrifice (yajña), and beyond the composite of real/unreal—indicating the transcendence of all conditioned frameworks.

Vedantic Theme: Paramātman beyond kāla and karma-kāṇḍa; limitation of ritual as ultimate; movement from upāsanā to parā-vidyā (liberating knowledge).

Application: Honor ritual as preparatory but cultivate inner surrender/knowledge; reflect on impermanence under time; orient life toward the timeless (nitya) through meditation, ethical purity, and remembrance of Hari.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s broader arc: ritual (śrāddha, dāna) as supportive, yet ultimate refuge in Viṣṇu and liberating knowledge is repeatedly affirmed

Characters & Entities

• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on the Deity 'beyond time' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Supreme as transcending time-bound existence, directing the reader toward liberation-focused contemplation rather than merely temporal aims.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing a reality beyond time, ritual, and even the categories of being/non-being, it points the soul’s highest goal toward the transcendent Brahman/Paramatman rather than worldly outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a daily meditation reminder: perform duties and rituals, but anchor the mind in the timeless Divine as the ultimate refuge and aim.