Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

महत्तत्त्वाद्दशगुणैरधिकं परिकीर्तितम् / महत्तत्त्वानन्तरं च तमो ह्यावरणं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

mahattattvāddaśaguṇairadhikaṃ parikīrtitam / mahattattvānantaraṃ ca tamo hyāvaraṇaṃ smṛtam

Translation

Il est enseigné que le principe au-delà de Mahat est célébré comme dix fois plus grand. Et, aussitôt après Mahat, l’obscurité (tamas) est rappelée comme l’āvaraṇa, le voile qui couvre et obscurcit.

Word by Word

• महत्तत्त्वात्: from the Mahat-tattva
• महत्तत्त्वात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• दशगुणैः: by tenfold (measures)
• दशगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशगुण (प्रातिपदिक; दश + गुण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक (अधिकम् इत्यस्य सह)

• अधिकम्: greater, in excess
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनावाचक विशेषण

• परिकीर्तितम्: is described/declared
• परिकीर्तितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √कीर्त्/√कृत्? (धातु; √कीर्त् ‘to mention/praise’) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अस्ति इति अध्याहार्य)

• महत्तत्त्वात्: after/from the Mahat-tattva
• महत्तत्त्वात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Kala/Desha-adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्राय)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; काल/क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘immediately after’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• तमः: tamas (darkness/inertia)
• तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed/for)

• आवरणम्: a covering
• आवरणम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (तमः इत्यस्य विधेय)

• स्मृतम्: is considered/remembered as
• स्मृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अस्ति इति अध्याहार्य)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tamas as āvaraṇa (covering) immediately succeeding Mahat; gradation of principles by magnitude.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā/āvaraṇa-śakti as obscuration of higher reality; discrimination of tattvas as a step toward viveka.

Application: Use tattva-viveka: notice tamasic dullness/confusion as a ‘covering’ and counter it with clarity practices (sattvic diet, study, meditation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.10.14-17 (continuation of āvaraṇa layers)

Characters & Entities

• Mahat-tattva
• Tamas

FAQs

What is the importance of tamas (āvaraṇa) in Garuda Purana cosmology?

This verse frames tamas as the obscuring veil that follows Mahat, explaining how consciousness and knowledge become covered in the process of manifestation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying tamas as a ‘covering’ after Mahat, the verse points to ignorance as a metaphysical cause of bondage—clarifying why the jīva experiences limitation and must seek knowledge to transcend coverings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat tamas as a real inner veil: reduce inertia and confusion through sāttvic habits, disciplined study, and ethical living so discernment (buddhi/Mahat) can function clearly.