Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

अव्याकृताख्यमाकाशं तदनन्तरमीरितम् / मर्यादारहितश्चैवं तत्रास्ते हरिरव्ययः

Transliteration

avyākṛtākhyamākāśaṃ tadanantaramīritam / maryādārahitaścaivaṃ tatrāste hariravyayaḥ

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ‘അവ്യാകൃത’ എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള ആകാശം പറയപ്പെടുന്നു—അത് അനന്തവും അതിരുകളില്ലാത്തതുമാണ്. അവിടെയാണ് അവ്യയനായ ഹരി വസിക്കുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• avyākṛta-ākhyam: named ‘unmanifest’
• avyākṛta-ākhyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyākṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: अव्याकृतम् आख्या यस्य/यत् (called ‘unmanifest’)

• ākāśam: space/ether
• ākāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• anantaram: next/immediately after
• anantaram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘अनन्तर’ = ततः परम्/next

• īritam: is said
• īritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īr (धाातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उक्तम्

• maryādā-rahitaḥ: boundary-less
• maryādā-rahitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maryādā (प्रातिपदिक) + rahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/अभावार्थ-तत्पुरुष: मर्यादया रहितः (devoid of boundary/limit)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• āste: dwells/is present
• āste: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ās (आस् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘आस्ते’ = तिष्ठति/वर्तते (dwells/is)

• hariḥ: Hari (Vishnu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• avyayaḥ: imperishable
• avyayaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘अव्यय’ = अविनाशी (imperishable)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beyond the unmanifest, boundaryless expanse, the imperishable Hari abides—ultimate ground beyond cosmological layers.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Nārāyaṇa as avyaya (imperishable) substratum; transcendence of māyā/avyākṛta through realization and devotion.

Application: Meditate on the limitless (ananta) and on Hari as the stable witness; use nāma-smaraṇa and contemplation of the imperishable to loosen fear of change.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.10.17 (Virajā boundary beyond sky)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Avyākṛta (the Unmanifest)
• Ākāśa (ether/space)

FAQs

What is the importance of Avyākṛta (the Unmanifest) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Avyākṛta as a boundless, limit-free principle beyond manifest creation, serving as the subtle metaphysical “domain” in which the imperishable Hari is affirmed to abide.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By pointing to a reality that is “without boundary” and associated with Hari, it implies that liberation is oriented toward the unconditioned, beyond the limited spheres of manifest experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness through remembrance of the imperishable (Hari) and reduce attachment to limited, changing conditions—supporting ethical living and a liberation-oriented mindset.