Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

वास्तवं ये विजानन्ति तेषां नित्यं धनं तपः / सुप्तिस्त्वज्ञानकार्यत्वात्सुप्तिर्नास्तीत्युदीरिता

Transliteration

vāstavaṃ ye vijānanti teṣāṃ nityaṃ dhanaṃ tapaḥ / suptistvajñānakāryatvātsuptirnāstītyudīritā

Translation

Para quienes conocen de veras la Realidad, el tapas (austeridad) es su riqueza constante. Pero el “sueño”, al ser un efecto nacido de la ignorancia (avidyā), es declarado en esencia como “inexistente” para el conocedor de la Verdad.

Word by Word

• वास्तवम्: reality/the real
• वास्तवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद—विजानन्ति इति

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• विजानन्ति: know/understand
• विजानन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; वि+ज्ञा

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of them’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative) ‘always’

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; धनम् इति समानााधिकरणम्

• सुप्तिः: sleep
• सुप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• अज्ञान-कार्यत्वात्: because it is a product of ignorance
• अज्ञान-कार्यत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान + कार्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतुः—‘because of being an effect of ignorance’

• सुप्तिः: sleep
• सुप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात

• उदीरिता: is declared
• उदीरिता: Kriya (क्रिया/implicit passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: उदीरित)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(it is) declared/said’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For reality-knowers, austerity/discipline is the abiding treasure; sleep is a product of ignorance and is, in the highest sense, negated.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-kārya (effects of ignorance) are sublated by knowledge; jñānī’s standpoint transcends state-bound limitations; inner wealth (tapas) over external possessions.

Application: Reframe ‘wealth’ as steady discipline and clarity; reduce tamas through regulated living and contemplative practice; treat drowsiness and escapism as signals to refine awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.26 (sleep defined); Garuda Purana 3.11.28-29 (dream-like status; not ultimately real)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing Reality (vāstava) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse says true knowledge transforms one’s values: tapas (spiritual discipline) becomes the lasting ‘wealth,’ supporting liberation-oriented living rather than worldly accumulation.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey discussed in the Garuda Purana?

Preta-kāṇḍa emphasizes consequences after death; here the text points to the root cause—ignorance. Removing ajñāna through discernment and tapas is presented as the inner remedy that reduces bondage and fear in post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily discipline (tapas) and self-inquiry: reduce inertia, practice mindful living, and treat excessive sleep and heedlessness as signs of ajñāna to be corrected through sattvic routine and study.