Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

अपरोक्षदृशां ब्रह्मन्व्यासादीनां खगेश्वर / विरजातरणं नास्ति भोक्तव्यत्वाच्च कर्मणः

Transliteration

aparokṣadṛśāṃ brahmanvyāsādīnāṃ khageśvara / virajātaraṇaṃ nāsti bhoktavyatvācca karmaṇaḥ

Translation

Ô Seigneur des oiseaux, pour ceux qui ont la réalisation directe de Brahman—tels Brahmā, Vyāsa et d’autres—il n’est point besoin de traverser la Virajā, car le karma doit encore être éprouvé selon ce qui convient.

Word by Word

• अपरोक्ष-दृशाम्: of the directly-realized ones
• अपरोक्ष-दृशाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपरोक्ष-दृश् (प्रातिपदिक; अपरोक्ष + दृश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• ब्रह्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘O Brahman’ (address)

• व्यास-आदीनाम्: of Vyāsa and others
• व्यास-आदीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; व्यास + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘of Vyāsa and others’

• खग-ईश्वर: O lord of birds
• खग-ईश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; खग + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; address to Garuḍa

• विरजा-तरणम्: crossing the Virajā
• विरजा-तरणम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरजा-तरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; subject of ‘नास्ति’

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• अस्ति: is (exists)
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘exists’

• भोक्तव्यत्वात्: because it must be experienced
• भोक्तव्यत्वात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + तव्य (कृत् प्रत्यय) + त्व (भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause): ‘because of the state of having to be experienced’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्मणः: of karma
• कर्मणः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of karma’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For direct-realization beings like Brahmā and Vyāsa, Virajā-crossing is not applicable; karmas (as framed here) are to be ‘experienced’ in their appropriate mode.

Vedantic Theme: Distinction of karma categories and the persistence/appearance of prārabdha even for the knower; teaching uses karmic language to explain differing post-realization trajectories.

Application: Hold both truths: pursue realization, yet accept the orderly unfolding of consequences and responsibilities without anxiety; maintain equanimity while prārabdha-like effects play out.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: transcendent boundary (negated for certain jñānins)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: karma-phala gradations and the role of jñāna in burning sañcita while prārabdha continues; Garuda Purana: sage exemplars (Vyāsa etc.) used to illustrate doctrinal points

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Brahma
• Vyasa
• Viraja

FAQs

What is the importance of the Virajā crossing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse clarifies that Virajā functions as a boundary in the post-death journey, yet those established in direct realization are not bound to such transitional crossings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It distinguishes ordinary post-death transit from the state of the realized: the realized are not compelled by intermediary passages like Virajā, though karma (as bhoga) is acknowledged in principle.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize inner realization and ethical action: the verse points to liberation through direct knowledge while reminding that actions have consequences that must be responsibly faced.