Shloka 35

Devanagari script

कस्माद्देवाज्जगज्जातं जगत्पालयते चकः / कीदृशैरवतारैश्च कस्मिन्याति लयं जगत्

Transliteration

kasmāddevājjagajjātaṃ jagatpālayate cakaḥ / kīdṛśairavatāraiśca kasminyāti layaṃ jagat

Translation

From which God has this universe arisen, and who sustains the world? By what kinds of incarnations does He descend, and into whom does the universe finally dissolve?

Word by Word

• कस्मात्: from whom/from what?
• कस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Ablative singular ‘from whom/what’

• देवात्: from the god
• देवात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी, एकवचन — Ablative singular

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter nominative/accusative singular

• जातम्: arisen
• जातम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Predicate participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘born/arisen’

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• पालयते: protects
• पालयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद — ‘protects/maintains’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Interrogative nominative singular

• कीदृशैः: by what kind of
• कीदृशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया, बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक विशेषण — Instrumental plural ‘by what kind of’

• अवतारैः: by incarnations
• अवतारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• कस्मिन्: in whom/where?
• कस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Locative singular ‘in whom/where’

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘goes/attains’

• लयम्: dissolution
• लयम्: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), questioning Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ultimate cause: from whom the universe arises, by whom it is sustained, through what avatāras He descends, and into whom all dissolves.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat-kāraṇatva of the Supreme (upādāna/nimitta causality in Vedāntic framing); laya into the ultimate reality; avatāra as compassionate descent without loss of transcendence.

Application: Contemplate causality and impermanence to reduce attachment; use avatāra narratives as supports for devotion and ethical living; align life with the sustaining principle rather than transient forms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmological discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.33-34 (who is supreme; how pleased; dharma/ācāra)

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Jagat
• Avatara
• Laya

FAQs

What is the importance of creation–preservation–dissolution in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the core metaphysical inquiry of the text: the single Divine source behind origin (sṛṣṭi), sustenance (sthiti), and dissolution (laya), preparing the listener for a systematic Purāṇic explanation.

How does this verse relate to Vishnu’s avatars in the Garuda Purana?

It explicitly asks about the nature and purpose of avatāras—divine descents through which the Supreme maintains dharma and protects the world—setting up the narrative for avatar-based theology.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reflecting on a single sustaining Divine order encourages dharmic living—ethical conduct, self-discipline, and devotion—by seeing life as part of a larger cosmic rhythm of arising and returning.