Shloka 15

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

मैथुनेन ततः सृष्टिं कर्तुमैच्छत्प्रजापतिः / असिक्रीमावहद्भार्यां वीरणस्य प्रजापतेः

Transliteration

maithunena tataḥ sṛṣṭiṃ kartumaicchatprajāpatiḥ / asikrīmāvahadbhāryāṃ vīraṇasya prajāpateḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Prajāpati desired to carry out creation through sexual union. From the wife of the Prajāpati Vīraṇa, Asikṛmī was born.

Word by Word

• मैथुनेन: by sexual union
• मैथुनेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Anantarya (Sequence/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do / to make
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव

• ऐच्छत्: desired
• ऐच्छत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• असिक्रीम्: Asikrī (proper name)
• असिक्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असिक्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (नाम)

• आवहत्: married / took (as wife)
• आवहत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• भार्याम्: as wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वीरणस्य: of Vīraṇa
• वीरणस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• प्रजापतेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation proceeds through appropriate means; maithuna within ordained order reflects gṛhastha’s role in sustaining prajā.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s generative function under dharma; channeling desire into lawful, world-sustaining action.

Application: Honor responsible sexuality and family duties; treat generativity (children/projects) as dharmic stewardship, not mere indulgence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: household/creational setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmogonic genealogies: transitions from manasa-sṛṣṭi to maithuna-sṛṣṭi

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Virana
• Asikrimi

FAQs

What is the importance of creation through maithuna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a classical Purāṇic model of procreation-based creation, where Prajāpatis generate specific lineages and beings through marital union, establishing genealogies used later for cosmological and dharmic framing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it sets the cosmological backdrop—how beings and lineages originate—within which later teachings on karma, death, and afterlife are situated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages seeing human life and family lineage within a sacred cosmological order, supporting responsibility (dharma) in relationships and procreation rather than treating them as merely material acts.