Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

यद्ब्रह्म च न जानीयाद्धरिप्रीत्यर्थमेव च / दुः खिवद्दृश्यते ब्रह्मा आज्ञानां मोहनाय च

Transliteration

yadbrahma ca na jānīyāddhariprītyarthameva ca / duḥ khivaddṛśyate brahmā ājñānāṃ mohanāya ca

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മത്തെ അറിയാതിരുന്നാലും ഹരിപ്രീതിക്കായി മാത്രം കര്‍മം ചെയ്യുന്നവന്—അജ്ഞരെ മോഹിപ്പിക്കാനായി ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ദുഃഖിതനെന്നപോലെ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the truth
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• जानीयात्: should know
• जानीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/संभावना), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरि-प्रीति-अर्थम्: for the sake of Hari’s pleasure
• हरि-प्रीति-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—(हरेः प्रीतिः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, तस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दुःखी-वत्: as if sorrowful
• दुःखी-वत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दुःखिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (adverbial: like/as if sorrowful)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अज्ञानानाम्: of the ignorant (people)
• अज्ञानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• मोहनाय: for deluding
• मोहनाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even without knowing Brahman, acting for Hari’s pleasure is highlighted; Brahmā’s seeming sorrow is an appearance meant to bewilder the ignorant (ajñāna-mohana).

Vedantic Theme: Māyā/adhyāsa: distinction between appearance and reality; adhikāra-bheda (fitness) governs what is revealed.

Application: Prioritize devotion and right intention; do not judge ultimate realities by surface appearances; cultivate discernment (viveka) to avoid being misled by seeming contradictions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: 3.11.41; 3.11.43

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Brahmā
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing Brahman in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that lack of Brahman-knowledge leaves one vulnerable to delusion (moha); true understanding prevents misreading appearances and spiritual states.

How does this verse explain delusion in spiritual life?

It says that to the ignorant, even exalted realities can appear distorted—Brahmā may seem “sorrowful”—showing how ajñāna projects confusion onto what is seen.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine devotion (acting for Hari’s pleasure) with study and discernment, so faith is supported by clarity and one is not misled by superficial appearances.