Shloka 27

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मवाय्वोश्च पासग्नि वास्तवं स्यात्खगेश्वर / कथं तर्हि तयोर्वर्ते ह्यविलत्यत्वमुच्यते

Transliteration

brahmavāyvośca pāsagni vāstavaṃ syātkhageśvara / kathaṃ tarhi tayorvarte hyavilatyatvamucyate

Translation

O Khageśvara, Lord of birds, if Brahmā and Vāyu are truly bound by the noose (pāśa) and by fire (agni), then how is “unimpededness” said to exist in their functioning?

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मवाय्वोः: of Brahmā and Vāyu
• ब्रह्मवाय्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ब्रह्मा च वायुः च; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (‘-ओः’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• पाश-अग्नि: noose and fire (uncertain reading)
• पाश-अग्नि: Unclear (अस्पष्ट)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: पाशः च अग्निः च; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन/एकवचन-पाठभेद; पाठ ‘पासग्नि’ अस्पष्ट—सम्भाव्यः ‘पाशाग्नि’

• वास्तवम्: real/actual
• वास्तवम्: Pradhana (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वास्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तर्हि: then
• तर्हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तर्हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/निगमनार्थक-अव्यय (then/therefore)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Gen./Loc. dual)

• वर्ते: exists/occurs
• वर्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात

• अविलत्यत्वम्: the state of not perishing (uncertain term)
• अविलत्यत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविलत्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित ‘-त्व’

• उच्यते: is said
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Khageshvara)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: If cosmic deities were truly bound by limiting forces (pāśa, agni), their ‘unimpeded’ operation would be contradictory—prompting discrimination between apparent and ultimate reality.

Vedantic Theme: Resolution of apparent contradiction via levels of reality (vyavahāra vs pāramārthika); inquiry into limitation (upādhi) and freedom of function.

Application: Use contradictions as prompts for deeper inquiry: examine where ‘bondage’ is only figurative (functional limitation) versus real (ignorance-based identification).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.28-30 (answer: sleep/dream-like, not ultimately real)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Brahma
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of pāśa (noose) and agni (fire) in this Garuda Purana verse?

They symbolize binding divine law and corrective force—principles of restraint and regulation—showing that even cosmic powers operate under dharma’s governance.

How does this verse explain ‘unimpededness’ (avilatyatva) in the cosmic order?

It raises a philosophical doubt: if higher beings are ‘bound’ by governing forces, how can their functions be described as unhindered—prompting a clarification that regulation and effective operation can coexist.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that true freedom is not lawlessness: disciplined conduct and ethical boundaries can enable clearer, more effective action in daily life.