Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

आस्याद्वै ब्राह्मणा जाता बाहुभ्यां क्षत्त्रियाः स्मृताः / ऊरुभ्यां तु विशः सृष्टाः शूद्रः पद्य्भाम जायत

Transliteration

āsyādvai brāhmaṇā jātā bāhubhyāṃ kṣattriyāḥ smṛtāḥ / ūrubhyāṃ tu viśaḥ sṛṣṭāḥ śūdraḥ padybhāma jāyata

Translation

From the mouth, indeed, the Brāhmaṇas were born; from the arms the Kṣatriyas are remembered to have arisen. From the thighs the Vaiśyas were created; from the feet the Śūdra came into being.

Word by Word

• आस्यात्: from the mouth
• आस्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जाताः: born
• जाताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (born)

• बाहुभ्याम्: from the two arms
• बाहुभ्याम्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान) / तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण) , द्विवचन; (here: from the arms)

• क्षत्त्रियाः: Kshatriyas
• क्षत्त्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are regarded/remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (are) remembered/considered

• ऊरुभ्याम्: from the two thighs
• ऊरुभ्याम्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान) / तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; (here: from the thighs)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषण-अव्यय (particle)

• विशः: Vaiśyas (the people)
• विशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (विष्/विश् as class-name), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सृष्टाः: created
• सृष्टाः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; created

• शूद्रः: Śūdra
• शूद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पद्य्भाम: from the two feet
• पद्य्भाम: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान) / तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; पाठदोष-संशय: अपेक्षितम् 'पद्भ्याम्' (from the two feet)

• जायत: was born
• जायत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; (was born)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-udbhava: brāhmaṇa from mouth, kṣatriya from arms, vaiśya from thighs, śūdra from feet—functional differentiation within a single cosmic whole.

Vedantic Theme: Unity-in-diversity: many functions arise within one puruṣa; dharma as svabhāva/svadharma aligned to cosmic order (ṛta).

Application: Interpret social roles as duties (guṇa-karma) rather than superiority; emphasize integrity in one’s work and mutual dependence of societal functions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic body (puruṣa) mapping

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.4.36 (corresponding lokas); Garuda Purana 1.4.37 (āśrama results)

FAQs

What is the importance of varna origin teaching in the Garuda Purana?

This verse grounds social duties (dharma) in a sacred cosmological model, explaining the four varnas as arising from different parts of the cosmic being to indicate differentiated functions within society.

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

Indirectly: by defining dharma-based roles, it frames ethical conduct and duty as the foundation for karmic outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Purana regarding post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that society functions through complementary responsibilities; focus on truthful conduct, service, and duty aligned with one’s capabilities rather than pride or hierarchy.