Shloka 8

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

अपां दशगुणैर्युक्तं समन्तात्परिधी (खी) कृतम् / तृतीयावरणं ज्ञेयं हरस्यैव महात्मनः

Transliteration

apāṃ daśaguṇairyuktaṃ samantātparidhī (khī) kṛtam / tṛtīyāvaraṇaṃ jñeyaṃ harasyaiva mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Encompassed on every side by a boundary of waters increased tenfold—know this as the third enclosure (āvaraṇa) belonging to the great-souled Hara (Śiva).

Word by Word

• अपाम्: of waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• दश-गुणैः: with tenfold factors / ten times
• दश-गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); संख्या-तत्पुरुष (daśabhir guṇaiḥ)

• युक्तम्: joined/endowed
• युक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘on all sides’

• परिधी-कृतम्: encircled
• परिधी-कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paridhi + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); ‘paridhi-kṛ’ = to encircle (परिधीकृ)

• तृतीया-आवरणम्: the third covering
• तृतीया-आवरणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛtīyā + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय (tṛtīyam āvaraṇam)

• ज्ञेयम्: is to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (कृत्: यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• हरस्य: of Hara (Śiva)
• हरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), emphasis/limitation

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe is structured in concentric coverings; discernment of tattva-layers aids metaphysical understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Vivarta/adhyāropa-style cosmological superimposition as a ladder for discrimination (viveka) between the seen (dṛśya) and the seer (draṣṭṛ).

Application: Use the layered-cosmos model as a contemplation: identify ‘enclosures’ around awareness (sensory field, elements, ego) and practice detachment from each layer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic enclosure/loka-āvaraṇa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.10.9-12 (subsequent āvaraṇas: fire, ahaṅkāra, mahat, triguna); Garuda Purana cosmography sections describing loka-āvaraṇas and tattva-sṛṣṭi (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)
• Ap (Cosmic Waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of the third āvaraṇa (enclosure) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the third cosmic sheath as a tenfold-expanding boundary of waters, marking a specific layer in the Purana’s mapped structure of the universe associated here with Hara (Śiva).

How does this verse explain the structure of the cosmos in the Garuda Purana?

It presents the cosmos as layered by successive enclosures (āvaraṇas), where each layer is described by a dominant element—here, the watery boundary that surrounds everything on all sides.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative reminder of cosmic order and layered reality—encouraging humility, disciplined living (dharma), and reverence toward the elemental forces described in scripture.