Shloka 16

Sṛṣṭi-krama: Brahmā’s Sequential Creation of Devas, Sages, and Sense-Presiding Powers

Devanagari script

इन्द्रस्यानन्तरं कामं त्रिंशद्वर्षादनन्तरम् / असृजद्वामबाहोश्चमनस्तत्वाभिमानिनम्

Transliteration

indrasyānantaraṃ kāmaṃ triṃśadvarṣādanantaram / asṛjadvāmabāhoścamanastatvābhimāninam

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രനുശേഷം, മുപ്പത് വർഷങ്ങൾക്കുശേഷം അദ്ദേഹം കാമനെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു; കൂടാതെ തന്റെ ഇടത് ഭുജത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മനസ്തത്ത്വാഭിമാനി (അധിഷ്ഠാതാവ്)നെയും ഉത്ഭവിപ്പിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• indrasya: of Indra
• indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• anantaram: afterwards/after
• anantaram: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of sequence

• kāmam: Kāma (desire-god)
• kāmam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• triṃśad-varṣāt: after thirty years (lit. from thirty years)
• triṃśad-varṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triṃśat + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa 'of thirty years' → 'from/after thirty years' (कालवाचक पञ्चमी)

• anantaram: after
• anantaram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb 'after'

• asṛjat: created
• asṛjat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Verb; लङ् (Imperfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• vāma-bāhoḥ: of the left arm
• vāma-bāhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; karmadhāraya 'left arm' (वामः बāहुः)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• manas-tattva-abhimāninam: the presiding deity of the mind-principle
• manas-tattva-abhimāninam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas + tattva + abhimānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'the presiding one (अभिमानी) of the mind-principle (मनस्-तत्त्व)'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Desire (kāma) and egoic identification with mind (manas-tattva-abhimāna) are created principles—powerful but conditioned, not ultimate.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa dynamics: manas and ahaṅkāra-like appropriation; the witnessed mind is distinct from the Self (ātman) in Vedāntic reading.

Application: Observe desire and mental identification as arising processes; practice mindfulness, japa, and ethical restraint to prevent kāma from commandeering manas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.13.14 (manas regulator Chandra); Garuda Purana 3.13.17 (Rati as Kāma’s śakti/consort)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Kama

FAQs

What is the importance of Kāma in the Garuda Purana’s cosmology?

This verse places Kāma (desire) as a specific emanation in the sequence of creation, indicating desire as a foundational force that drives thought, action, and worldly continuity.

How does this verse explain the mind (manas) in technical terms?

It refers to the manas-tattva and its “abhimānī,” the presiding identity/deity that ‘claims’ or governs the mind-principle—showing the Purāṇic model where tattvas have ruling intelligences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat desire and mental identification as powerful forces to be disciplined: observe cravings, refine intention, and cultivate steadiness of mind to reduce impulsive karma.