Shloka 33

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

एतान् ग्राम्यान्पशून्प्राहुरारण्यांश्च निबोध मे / श्वापदं द्विखुरं हस्तिवानराः पक्षिपञ्चमाः

Transliteration

etān grāmyānpaśūnprāhurāraṇyāṃśca nibodha me / śvāpadaṃ dvikhuraṃ hastivānarāḥ pakṣipañcamāḥ

Translation

These are declared to be the domesticated animals; and now learn from me those that are wild—beasts of prey, cloven-hoofed creatures, elephants and monkeys, and, as the fifth class, the birds.

Word by Word

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (these)

• ग्राम्यान्: domestic
• ग्राम्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (domestic/village)

• पशून्: animals
• पशून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्राहुः: they have said / call
• प्राहुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• आरण्यान्: wild (forest)
• आरण्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (forest-dwelling/wild)

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

• निबोध: understand / learn
• निबोध: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मे: to me / from me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (of me/to me—enclitic)

• श्वापदम्: beasts of prey (wild animals)
• श्वापदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वापद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (here as category-name)

• द्विखुरम्: two-hoofed animals
• द्विखुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (two-hoofed)

• हस्तिवानराः: elephants and monkeys
• हस्तिवानराः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (elephants and monkeys)

• पक्षिपञ्चमाः: with birds as the fifth (class)
• पक्षिपञ्चमाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (whose fifth is birds / birds as the fifth class)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sṛṣṭi-krama: beings are grouped by habitat and nature (domestic/wild; predatory; cloven-hoofed; etc.).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sṛṣṭi as an ordered manifestation within prakṛti; knowledge begins with right classification (viveka at a basic level).

Application: Cultivate discernment about living beings and their habitats; supports dharmic conduct (non-harm, appropriate livelihood) through informed awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.4.34-37 (continuation of creation and social-cosmic order)

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying grāmya and āraṇya animals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lays out a dharma-oriented taxonomy—distinguishing domestic and wild creatures—often used as groundwork for rules of conduct, purity, and permitted interactions in āchāra discussions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to an āchāra-style instructional section that systematizes categories in the world, which later supports ethical and ritual reasoning.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the distinction between domestic and wild life to guide non-harmful conduct, responsible stewardship, and context-sensitive ethical choices aligned with dharmic living.