Shloka 10

Naimittika and Prākṛtika Pralaya

Periodic and Primordial Dissolution

Devanagari script

एवं सा जगदाधारा तोये चोर्वो प्रलीयते / आपस्तेजसि लीयन्ते तेजो वायौ प्रलीयते

Transliteration

evaṃ sā jagadādhārā toye corvo pralīyate / āpastejasi līyante tejo vāyau pralīyate

Translation

Thus the earth—the support of the world—dissolves into water. The waters are absorbed into fire, and fire, in turn, dissolves into wind.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: “thus”)

• सा: she/that (entity)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• जगदाधारा: support of the world
• जगदाधारा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jagataḥ ādhāraḥ → “support of the world”), स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूप (ādhārā)

• तोये: in water
• तोये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• उर्वो: of the earth
• उर्वो: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; वैदिक/काव्य-रूप “उर्व्याः/उर्व्याः” इत्यर्थे (of the earth)

• प्रलीयते: is dissolved/merges
• प्रलीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः प्र-; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive/intransitive sense: “is dissolved”)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नित्यबहुवचन (pluralia tantum)

• तेजसि: in fire/energy
• तेजसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• लीयन्ते: are dissolved/merge
• लीयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive/intransitive: “are dissolved”)

• तेजः: fire/energy
• तेजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वायौ: in air/wind
• वायौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रलीयते: is dissolved/merges
• प्रलीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः प्र-; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Elemental dissolution (bhūta-laya): gross elements resolve into subtler principles in pralaya.

Vedantic Theme: Vivarta/pariṇāma discussion-point: the world’s manifest forms are transient and resolve back into causal states; supports vairāgya and inquiry into the substratum.

Application: Contemplate the perishability of body and world (pañca-bhūta analysis) to reduce attachment and strengthen sādhana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.224.11-12 (continuation of pralaya/creation sequence); Garuda Purana 1.225.1-2 (saṃsāra-cakra and liberation framing)

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Urvī)
• Water (Āpaḥ)
• Fire (Tejas)
• Wind (Vāyu)

FAQs

What is the importance of elemental dissolution (pralaya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse outlines the ordered re-absorption of the gross elements, showing that the visible world is temporary and returns step-by-step to subtler principles during pralaya.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches impermanence: since even the elements dissolve, the soul’s focus should be on the imperishable reality beyond changing material layers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and dharmic living by remembering that possessions and the physical body are transient, while ethical conduct and spiritual practice have lasting value.