Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मण्यमुख्यया वृत्त्या ह्यस्तीत्येवं निबोध मे / अतो न वास्तवमिदमङ्गीकार्यं खगेश्वर

Transliteration

brahmaṇyamukhyayā vṛttyā hyastītyevaṃ nibodha me / ato na vāstavamidamaṅgīkāryaṃ khageśvara

Translation

എന്നിൽ നിന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കുക—ബ്രഹ്മനിഷ്ഠമായ പരമ വൃത്തിയിൽ ഇത് ഇങ്ങനെ ‘അസ്തി’ എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. അതിനാൽ, ഹേ ഖഗേശ്വരാ! ഇതിനെ പരമവാസ്തവമായി അംഗീകരിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मण्य-मुख्यया: by the Brahman-centered principal
• ब्रह्मण्य-मुख्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण—वृत्त्या इति

• वृत्त्या: by the mode/attitude
• वृत्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/बलार्थ

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• एवम्: in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• निबोध: understand
• निबोध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; नि+बुध्

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/causal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ (therefore)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• वास्तवम्: real/true
• वास्तवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वास्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—इदम् इति

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अङ्गीकार्यं: to be accepted
• अङ्गीकार्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गी-√कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: अङ्गीकार्य)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be accepted’

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधनपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Existence-claims depend on the mode of cognition; from the highest Brahman-oriented understanding, certain appearances are only conventionally ‘said to exist’ and should not be taken as ultimately real.

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of cognition and reality (vyavahāra vs pāramārthika); vṛtti-jñāna as instrument; negation of superimposition (adhyāsa).

Application: When evaluating experiences (visions, dreams, fears), ask: ‘At what level of knowing does this hold?’ Re-anchor in Brahman-oriented discernment through śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.26-28 (definitions and dream/sleep analogy); Garuda Purana 3.11.30 (sleep as ignorance-effect; knower’s stance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of a Brahman-centered understanding (brahmaṇya vṛtti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the highest perspective is oriented toward Brahman, where many described phenomena are treated as provisional—useful for instruction but not ultimate reality.

How does this verse explain the difference between ‘exists’ and ‘ultimately real’?

It indicates that something may be spoken of as ‘existing’ within a certain explanatory framework, yet from the supreme standpoint it is not to be affirmed as absolutely real.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use spiritual discernment: engage responsibly with worldly duties, but avoid clinging to appearances as final—keep the mind aligned with the highest truth.