Shloka 7

Naimittika and Prākṛtika Pralaya

Periodic and Primordial Dissolution

Devanagari script

पूर्णे संवत्सरशते संहृत्य सकलं जगत् / ब्रह्माणं न्यस्य देहे हि मुक्तो योगबलैर्हरिः

Transliteration

pūrṇe saṃvatsaraśate saṃhṛtya sakalaṃ jagat / brahmāṇaṃ nyasya dehe hi mukto yogabalairhariḥ

Translation

When a full hundred years are completed, having withdrawn the entire universe, Hari—by the power of Yoga—becomes free, having indeed placed Brahmā within his own body.

Word by Word

• pūrṇe: when completed
• pūrṇe: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• saṃvatsaraśate: in a hundred years
• saṃvatsaraśate: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara-śata (प्रातिपदिक; संवत्सर + शत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (संवत्सराणां शते)

• saṃhṛtya: having withdrawn/destroyed
• saṃhṛtya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃ-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः

• sakalam: entire
• sakalam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जगत्)

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• nyasya: having placed
• nyasya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-as (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-प्राय (absolutive/gerund; ल्यप्), अव्ययभावः

• dehe: in the body
• dehe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• muktaḥ: released, free
• muktaḥ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त; मुच् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (हरिः)

• yogabalaiḥ: by the powers of yoga
• yogabalaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga-bala (प्रातिपदिक; योग + बल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य बलानि)

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Laya (reabsorption) culminates in Hari’s yogic freedom; Brahmā and the universe are not independent but rest in the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the inner controller (antaryāmin) and final resort of all tattvas; dissolution as return to the causal source; yoga as sovereign power (aiśvarya).

Application: Practice inner withdrawal (pratyāhāra) and meditation: learn to ‘place’ the mind’s creations back into the Self/Lord through disciplined yoga and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic interior (causal containment)

Cross References

Related Themes: Sequence of prākṛtika pralaya in 1.224.5–1.224.9; Brahmā’s lifespan completion in 1.224.9

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of cosmic dissolution (saṃhāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights saṃhāra as the moment when the manifested universe is withdrawn back into the divine source, with Hari portrayed as the one who absorbs creation and transcends it through yogic power.

How does this verse explain the path of liberation?

Liberation is presented as freedom attained through yogabala—mastery that enables transcendence of cosmic processes—symbolized by Hari becoming ‘mukta’ after reabsorbing the universe and containing Brahmā within himself.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages cultivating inner discipline (yoga, meditation, dharma) and detachment by remembering that even vast worldly structures are temporary and ultimately resolve into the divine.