Shloka 25

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

ततो हि बलिनो रात्रावसुरा देवता दिवा / सत्त्वमात्रां तनुं गृह्य पितरश्च ततो ऽभवन्

Transliteration

tato hi balino rātrāvasurā devatā divā / sattvamātrāṃ tanuṃ gṛhya pitaraśca tato 'bhavan

Translation

それより、アスラは夜に強く、デーヴァは昼に強くなった。さらにピトリ（祖霊）も、サットヴァのみから成る微妙なる身を受けて生じた。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thereupon)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• बलिनः: strong
• बलिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘असुराः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असुराः: asuras
• असुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (by day/in daytime)

• सत्त्वमात्राम्: consisting only of sattva
• सत्त्वमात्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सत्त्वस्य मात्रा)

• तनुम्: body
• तनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गृह्य: having taken
• गृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्यय-भाव/gerund), ‘ग्रह्’ धातोः; क्रियापूर्वकत्वम् (having taken)

• पितरः: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thereupon)

• अभवन्: came into being
• अभवन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time conditions relative strength of forces; subtle sattva supports ancestral continuity; cosmic order distributes capacities rather than absolute good/evil.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa and kāla (time) as conditioning factors within prakṛti; Pitṛ principle as continuity of subtle bodies and samskāra-stream.

Application: Choose timing for practices: daytime for deva-oriented sattvic acts; night for restraint and protection; remember ancestors through gratitude and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.4.23-24 (Night/Day origins); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on Pitṛs and śrāddha (general thematic continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Devas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the Pitṛs (ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the Pitṛs to a distinct order of beings who arise with a subtle (sattva-only) form, supporting the text’s broader emphasis on honoring ancestors through śrāddha and offerings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By introducing the Pitṛs as subtle-bodied beings, it frames an intermediate ancestral sphere that the departed may relate to through rites—highlighting the Garuda Purana’s theme that post-death states involve subtle embodiments and specific realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sattvic conduct and perform ancestral rites (śrāddha/pinda-dāna) with sincerity, recognizing the Garuda Purana’s view that subtle worlds and ancestral connections are strengthened by ethical living and proper remembrance.