Shloka 2

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

शौनकेनैव मुक्तस्तु सूतो वचनमब्रवीत् / शूत उवाच / सम्यग्व्यवसिता बुद्धिस्तव ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तम

Transliteration

śaunakenaiva muktastu sūto vacanamabravīt / śūta uvāca / samyagvyavasitā buddhistava brahmarṣisattama

Translation

ಶೌನಕನಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತನಾದ ಸೂತನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮರ್ಷಿಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ, ನಿನ್ನ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಸಮ್ಯಕ್‌ವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಥಿರನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• śaunakena: by Shaunaka
• śaunakena: Karana (Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaunaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic Particle

• uktaḥ: addressed / spoken to
• uktaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) -> ukta
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular. (Note: Input 'mukta' likely typo for 'ukta' or 'pṛṣṭa', analyzed as 'ukta' based on context)

• tu: but/however
• tu: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sūtaḥ: Suta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• samyak: well / properly
• samyak: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• vyavasitā: resolved / determined
• vyavasitā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ava + so (धातु) -> vyavasita
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• buddhiḥ: intellect / understanding
• buddhiḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• brahmarṣisattama: O best of Brahmin sages
• brahmarṣisattama: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmarṣisattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikara (fitness): a well-determined intellect and properly framed inquiry are prerequisites for receiving cosmological/ontological teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Sadhana-chatushtaya echo: clarity (viveka) and steadiness (nishchaya) as gateways to knowledge; guru’s recognition of readiness.

Application: Before deep study, refine questions and stabilize understanding; seek feedback from competent teachers; cultivate intellectual humility and precision.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: forest-ashram

Cross References

Related Themes: 3.2.1 (Śaunaka’s inquiry); 3.2.3 (transition to Garuda–Hari dialogue as authoritative source)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Sūta

FAQs

What is the importance of Sūta and Śaunaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching as a faithfully transmitted dialogue: Śaunaka authorizes the narration, and Sūta confirms the sage’s clear intent, establishing a reliable scriptural setting.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey directly; rather, it introduces the formal dialogue structure through which later teachings on dharma, rites, and post-death topics are delivered.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred teachings with a settled intention and careful inquiry—clear questions and attentive listening are presented as the proper gateway to dharmic knowledge.