Shloka 55

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

Devanagari script

अतश्च परमाणूनां पार्थिवाऽनन्त्यवादिनाम् / भेदः परस्परं ज्ञेयस्तथेशस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

ataśca paramāṇūnāṃ pārthivā'nantyavādinām / bhedaḥ parasparaṃ jñeyastatheśasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Por ello, entre los átomos nacidos de la tierra—de los que se habla como innumerables—debe conocerse su mutua diferencia; y del mismo modo, las distinciones en la manifestación que pertenecen al gran Señor.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु/therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निष्कर्ष (therefore/for this reason)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• परमाणूनाम्: of the atoms
• परमाणूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमः अणुः/supreme atom), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पार्थिव-अनन्त्य-वादिनाम्: of the earthly proponents of infinitude
• पार्थिव-अनन्त्य-वादिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अनन्त्यं वदन्ति ये/those who assert infinitude; qualified as ‘pārthiva’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भेदः: difference
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परस्परम्: mutually; among themselves
• परस्परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्पर-क्रियाविशेषण (reciprocal adverb: mutually)

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known; should be understood
• ज्ञेयः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त, विधिलिङ्गार्थक-भाव (gerundive/तव्यत्-समर्थ: to be known), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (likewise)

• ईशस्य: of the Lord
• ईशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Plurality and mutual distinctions exist at the atomic/material level; by analogy, distinctions in manifestation are to be understood with respect to the Lord’s relation to the world.

Vedantic Theme: Ontology of difference-in-manifestation: distinguishing categories (jada/jiva/īśvara) and their modes; supports a realist theistic metaphysics rather than undifferentiated monism in empirical discourse.

Application: Practice discernment: separate the analysis of material constituents from the Lord’s sovereignty; avoid category errors (treating God as merely material or atoms as conscious).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.56–57 (explicit bheda doctrine; pañca-bheda); Garuda Purana 3.3.58 (guṇa-sṛṣṭi as the Lord’s creative act)

Characters & Entities

• Isha (the Lord)

FAQs

What is the importance of paramāṇu (atom) discussion in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames creation as analyzable into ultimate particles (paramāṇu) with knowable distinctions, supporting a systematic, tattva-based understanding of the material world.

How does this verse relate to the Lord (Īśa) in Garuda Purana?

It links the diversity seen among atoms and elements to the Lord’s differentiated manifestations in creation—implying that multiplicity is both real at the level of forms and grounded in the supreme source.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discernment (viveka): recognize differences in material conditions and experiences without losing sight of the higher unity and governing order behind them.