Shloka 24

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

भ्माण्डं ह्यसृजत्तत्र सर्वलोकविधायकम् / प्रलये मुक्तिहीनश्च सुप्त इत्युच्यते बुधः

Transliteration

bhmāṇḍaṃ hyasṛjattatra sarvalokavidhāyakam / pralaye muktihīnaśca supta ityucyate budhaḥ

Translation

അവിടെ അദ്ദേഹം ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡം—സകല ലോകങ്ങളെയും ക്രമപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന വിധാതാവ്—സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു. പ്രളയകാലത്ത് പ്രകടമായ പ്രവർത്തനവ്യാപാരം ഇല്ലാത്തതിനാൽ ജ്ഞാനികൾ അവനെ ‘സുപ്തൻ’ (നിദ്രിതൻ) എന്നു പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माण्डम्: the cosmic egg (universe)
• ब्रह्माण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मणः अण्डम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—निश्चय/हेतु

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

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

• सर्वलोकविधायकम्: the ordainer of all worlds
• सर्वलोकविधायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लोक + विधायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्माण्डम्); समासः—सर्वेषां लोकानां विधायकम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रलये: at dissolution
• प्रलये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative)

• मुक्तिहीनः: devoid of liberation
• मुक्तिहीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बुधः); समासः—मुक्त्या हीनः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-वर्जितार्थ)

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

• सुप्तः: asleep
• सुप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—सुप्/स्वप् (धातु) + क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बुधः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद-रूप

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord manifests the cosmos as world-ordainer; at dissolution he is described as ‘asleep’—a figurative account of unmanifest potency rather than literal change in the Absolute.

Vedantic Theme: Sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya as līlā/śakti-vyāpāra; avasthā-traya analogy; nirvikāratva of Brahman with vyavahāra-level descriptions.

Application: Contemplate impermanence of worlds and stability of the substratum; reduce anxiety about change; align life with what endures (dharma, devotion, knowledge).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic structure

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.25 (no pralaya for Brahman)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanda
• Pralaya

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmanda (cosmic egg) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Brahmāṇḍa as the structured cosmos that becomes the basis for all worlds, emphasizing that creation is an ordered manifestation rather than a random event.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By contrasting creation with pralaya, it implies that individual journeys occur within a manifested cosmic order; at dissolution, that framework withdraws into dormancy, shifting focus from worldly pathways to unmanifest rest.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat worldly conditions as temporary cycles; prioritize dharma and inner steadiness, remembering that all external structures—status, possessions, even worlds—are subject to dissolution.