Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

अण्डाभिमानी ब्रह्मा तु विराडाख्यो ह्यभूत्तदा / एवं मतं स निर्माय भगवान्हरिख्ययः

Transliteration

aṇḍābhimānī brahmā tu virāḍākhyo hyabhūttadā / evaṃ mataṃ sa nirmāya bhagavānharikhyayaḥ

Translation

Entonces Brahmā, que preside el huevo cósmico (aṇḍa), fue conocido como Virāṭ. Así, habiendo forjado esta comprensión, el Bienaventurado Señor, célebre como Hari, la estableció.

Word by Word

• अण्ड-अभिमानी: identifying with the cosmic egg
• अण्ड-अभिमानी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• विराट्-आख्यः: named Virāṭ
• विराट्-आख्यः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विराट् (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Emphasis/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ निपात (indeed/for)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• मतम्: an opinion/doctrine
• मतम्: कर्म (Object of ‘निर्माय’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• निर्माय: having created/formed
• निर्माय: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + मा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having created/established’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता; apposition to ‘सः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• हरि-ख्ययः: named Hari
• हरि-ख्ययः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘भगवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari), narrating within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Virāṭ as the cosmic totality associated with Brahmā’s presiding function over the aṇḍa; Hari as the ultimate source who establishes the framework of understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of tattvas and devatā-abhimāna; ultimate causality and governance resting in Bhagavān (Viṣṇu/Hari).

Application: Study creation teachings as a means to humility and devotion: recognize delegated cosmic roles while anchoring faith in the Supreme as final cause.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic sphere/egg

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prakṛti/vaikṛta sarga discussions; tattva-abhimānin devatās; Garuda Purana: Hari’s supremacy statements across cosmology and devotion sections

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Virat
• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of Virāṭ (the Cosmic Person) in Garuda Purana?

This verse links Brahmā’s cosmic function (presiding over the aṇḍa) with the name Virāṭ, emphasizing a macrocosmic identity that frames creation as an ordered, intelligible principle.

How does this verse explain creation in the Garuda Purana?

It presents creation as structured: Brahmā governs the cosmic egg, while Hari establishes the underlying ‘mata’ (doctrinal understanding) that makes the cosmological order coherent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplate the unity of life as a single cosmic order (Virāṭ-bhāva); it supports ethical living by reducing ego-centered identity and encouraging duty aligned with dharma.