Shloka 1

Sṛṣṭi-krama: Brahmā’s Sequential Creation of Devas, Sages, and Sense-Presiding Powers

Devanagari script

नाम द्वादशो ऽद्यायः श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / इति स्तुतः स भगवान् स्वपूत्रेण दयानिधिः / मेधगंभीरया वाचा प्रोवाच मधुसूदनः

Transliteration

nāma dvādaśo 'dyāyaḥ śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / iti stutaḥ sa bhagavān svapūtreṇa dayānidhiḥ / medhagaṃbhīrayā vācā provāca madhusūdanaḥ

Translation

Capítulo duodécimo—dijo Śrī Kṛṣṇa: Así alabado por su propio hijo, aquel Bhagavān—océano de compasión—habló entonces; Madhusūdana, el vencedor de Madhu, pronunció palabras con voz profunda y colmada de sabiduría.

Word by Word

• nāma: (thus) named / title marker
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-प्रस्ताव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse-marker/particle (निदर्शन/प्रस्तावक)

• dvādaśaḥ: twelfth
• dvādaśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ordinal use ‘twelfth’

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrīkṛṣṇaḥ: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• śrīkṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—‘śrī’ + ‘kṛṣṇa’ (honorific + name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-समापन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• stutaḥ: praised
• stutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-putreṇa: by (his) own son
• sva-putreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘sva’ (own) + ‘putra’ (son)

• dayā-nidhiḥ: treasure of compassion
• dayā-nidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘dayāyāḥ nidhiḥ’ (treasure of compassion)

• medhā-gambhīrayā: with (a) profound (and) intelligent
• medhā-gambhīrayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक) + gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ‘vācā’; तत्पुरुषः—‘medhayā gambhīrā’ (deep through intellect)

• vācā: by speech/words
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• provāca: spoke forth
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; upasarga ‘pra-’

• madhu-sūdanaḥ: Madhusūdana (slayer of Madhu)
• madhu-sūdanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + sūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘madhum sūdayati’ (slayer of Madhu)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (identified here as Bhagavān, Madhusūdana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s speech is the vehicle of cosmic order and instruction; compassion motivates revelation to the devotee/son.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as jagat-kāraṇa and śāstra-pravartaka; divine word as pramāṇa guiding creation and liberation.

Application: Approach teachings with receptivity: treat scriptural instruction as compassionate guidance; cultivate listening (śravaṇa) with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.13.2 (the Lord’s command to create); Garuda Purana 3.12.110 (praise preceding response)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Bhagavān
• Madhusūdana
• svaputra (his son)

FAQs

What is the importance of this opening verse in Garuda Purana Chapter 13?

It sets the dialogue frame: after being praised, Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa/Madhusūdana) begins a serious instruction delivered in a “deep with wisdom” voice, signaling an authoritative teaching section.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: it functions as the narrative transition into the Lord’s teaching. The verse indicates that what follows is compassionate guidance, typically used in the Purana to introduce doctrines about dharma, karma, and post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred teachings with humility and praise, and receive them as compassionate instruction—then apply them through disciplined living (dharma) and thoughtful ritual observance where appropriate.