Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

निर्ममे नासिकां वामां ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः / अहङ्कारादनु ब्रह्मा सज्ञानं च बृहस्पतिम्

Transliteration

nirmame nāsikāṃ vāmāṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ / ahaṅkārādanu brahmā sajñānaṃ ca bṛhaspatim

Translation

लोकपितामह ब्रह्मा ने बाईं नासिका की रचना की। फिर अहंकार से अनन्तर ब्रह्मा ने सच्चे ज्ञान से युक्त बृहस्पति को उत्पन्न किया।

Word by Word

• निर्ममे: created/made
• निर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्मा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• नासिकाम्: Nāsikā (a female/person)
• नासिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• वामाम्: Vāmā (named/left)
• वामाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• लोक-पितामहः: grandfather of the worlds
• लोक-पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lokānāṃ pitāmahaḥ)

• अहङ्कारात्: from ego
• अहङ्कारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• अनु: after/following
• अनु: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण (after/following)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (द्वितीय-पादे पुनरुक्त-कर्ता)

• स-ज्ञानम्: with knowledge
• स-ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (saha jñānena / ‘with knowledge’) विशेषणरूपेण

• च: and
• च: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• बृहस्पतिम्: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahaṅkāra serves as a generative node from which both sensory structures and guiding intelligence (Bṛhaspati) can manifest; knowledge is presented as an emergent cosmic function.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra as upādhi producing differentiated functions; the ‘guru’ principle as sattva-oriented refinement within manifestation.

Application: Channel ego-energy toward sattvic learning: convert self-assertion into disciplined study, counsel-seeking, and truthful speech.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana genealogical/cosmogonic lists mentioning Bṛhaspati and Tārā; Garuda Purana discussions of guru, jñāna, and sattva as liberative supports

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Brihaspati
• Ahamkara

FAQs

What is the importance of Ahaṅkāra (egoity) in Garuda Purana creation accounts?

This verse links ahaṅkāra to emanation: from the ‘I’-sense arises a distinct cosmic function, here personified as Bṛhaspati, showing how psychological principles become creative forces in Purāṇic cosmology.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by presenting knowledge (jñāna) as a divine principle embodied by Bṛhaspati, it implies that right understanding counters egoity—an inner shift that supports dharmic living and, by extension, a favorable post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and seek guidance from authentic teachers: reducing ego (ahaṅkāra) and increasing discriminative knowledge (jñāna) aligns one’s actions with dharma.