Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

कर्मदेवानन्तरं तु त्रिंशद्वर्षादनन्तरम् / पर्जन्यमसृज्ब्रह्मा मन्त्रयन्त्राभिमानिनम्

Transliteration

karmadevānantaraṃ tu triṃśadvarṣādanantaram / parjanyamasṛjbrahmā mantrayantrābhimāninam

Translation

Après la divinité qui préside au karma, puis après un nouvel intervalle de trente ans, Brahmā créa Parjanya, dieu de la pluie, qui se glorifie des mantras et des instruments rituels.

Word by Word

• कर्मदेव-अनन्तरम्: after the karma-deities
• कर्मदेव-अनन्तरम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्मदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (after the karma-deities)

• तु: then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• त्रिंशद्वर्षात्: after thirty years
• त्रिंशद्वर्षात्: Apadana (अपादान/Time-from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; काल-अपादान (after thirty years)

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), कालवाचक

• पर्जन्यम्: Parjanya
• पर्जन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्जन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मन्त्र-यन्त्र-अभिमानिनम्: the presiding deity of mantras and yantras
• मन्त्र-यन्त्र-अभिमानिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to पर्जन्यम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one who presides over/identifies with mantras and yantras)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual speech (mantra) and instruments (yantra/ritual implements) participate in sustaining cosmic functions like rain; pride/identification (abhimāna) binds functional deities to roles.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra/abhimāna as role-identification within prakṛti; mantra as śabda-brahman operating in the ritual domain.

Application: Use mantra/ritual with humility and right intention; avoid egoic pride in spiritual technique or tools.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: atmospheric/cosmic sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.13.52 (Puṣkara, karma-tattva)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Parjanya
• Karmadeva

FAQs

What is the importance of Parjanya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Parjanya as a divinely created power associated with rain and order, described as aligned with mantra and ritual implements—highlighting rain as part of a sacred, regulated cosmic system.

How does this verse connect karma with cosmic administration?

By mentioning the karmadeva first and then a timed creation sequence culminating in Parjanya, the verse frames karma and natural forces as overseen by specific divine functions within an ordered chronology.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat actions and rituals with responsibility: the verse implies that results (including environmental and social order symbolized by rain) are linked to disciplined conduct, sacred speech (mantra), and mindful practice.