Shloka 3

Naimittika and Prākṛtika Pralaya

Periodic and Primordial Dissolution

Devanagari script

भूर्भुवः स्वर्महर्लोकं चराचरं जनस्तथा / विष्णुश्च रुद्रो भूत्वासौ पातालानि दहत्यधः

Transliteration

bhūrbhuvaḥ svarmaharlokaṃ carācaraṃ janastathā / viṣṇuśca rudro bhūtvāsau pātālāni dahatyadhaḥ

Translation

He burns up Bhūr, Bhuvaḥ, Svar, and Maharloka; all that moves and does not move, and also Janaloka. Becoming both Viṣṇu and Rudra, he scorches the netherworlds below—the Pātālas.

Word by Word

• भूः: Bhū (earth-world)
• भूः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-उल्लेख (world-name)

• भुवः: Bhuvaḥ (mid-world)
• भुवः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अव्ययवत् लोकनाम); समाहार-उल्लेख

• स्वः: Svaḥ (heaven-world)
• स्वः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (लोकनाम)

• महर्-लोकम्: Maharloka
• महर्-लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• चर-अचरम्: moving and unmoving (beings)
• चर-अचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (movable and immovable beings)

• जनः: Jana (world)
• जनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (लोकनाम: जनलोकः संक्षेपे)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; 'also/likewise')

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Pratipadyamana (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (becomes Rudra)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Absolutive/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; 'having become'

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता (emphatic 'that one')

• पातालानि: the netherworlds
• पातालानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• दहति: burns
• दहति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अधः: below/downwards
• अधः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, typical Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The dissolving power pervades all realms; the divine operates through multiple forms/functions (Viṣṇu-preserver and Rudra-dissolver) in cosmic cycles.

Vedantic Theme: Non-dual governance: one īśvara with diverse vyūha/śakti functions; all lokas are within māyā and subject to pralaya.

Application: See beyond sectarian division in cosmic functions; cultivate surrender and discernment that only the imperishable Self/Brahman is beyond dissolution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic lokas (upper and nether)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: cosmology of lokas and pralaya fire (general)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Rudra
• Bhūrloka
• Bhuvarloka
• Svargaloka
• Maharloka
• Janaloka
• Pātāla

FAQs

What is the importance of the lokas (Bhūr, Bhuvaḥ, Svaḥ, Maharloka, Janaloka) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse highlights the Purāṇic map of existence—multiple realms above and below—and teaches that all realms, from earth to higher worlds, are ultimately impermanent and subject to cosmic dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By emphasizing that even heavenly and higher realms can be consumed in dissolution, the verse reinforces a key Garuḍa Purāṇa theme: liberation is not secured by reaching a realm, but by transcending the cycle of change through dharma, devotion, and right knowledge.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from status and temporary “heaven-like” rewards, and prioritize enduring virtues—dharma, compassion, truthfulness, and devotion—since all conditioned worlds are transient.