Shloka 18

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

रजसात्र समुत्पन्नो मायायां वासुदेवतः / विधिसंज्ञो विरिञ्चः स ज्ञातव्यः पक्षिसत्तम

Transliteration

rajasātra samutpanno māyāyāṃ vāsudevataḥ / vidhisaṃjño viriñcaḥ sa jñātavyaḥ pakṣisattama

Translation

ഹേ പക്ഷിസത്തമാ! മായയിൽ വാസുദേവനിൽ നിന്നു രജോഗുണത്താൽ ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നവൻ തന്നെയാണ് ‘വിരിഞ്ച’; അവൻ ‘വിധി’ എന്ന നാമത്താലും അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• रजसा: by rajas (the quality of passion)
• रजसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: here/in this context)

• समुत्पन्नः: arisen/produced
• समुत्पन्नः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उत्-√पद्/पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP), पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मायायाम्: in Māyā
• मायायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वासुदेवतः: from Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (ablative/5th), एकवचनम्; ‘-तः’ प्रत्ययेन अपादानार्थः

• विधिसंज्ञः: having the name ‘Vidhi’
• विधिसंज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विधेः संज्ञा यस्य (नाम)

• विरिञ्चः: Viriñca (Brahmā)
• विरिञ्चः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ज्ञातव्यः: is to be known
• ज्ञातव्यः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय/Obligatory predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्तः (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be known’), पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• पक्षिसत्तम: O best of birds
• पक्षिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पक्षिणाम् सत्तमः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Vāsudeva) addressing Garuda (Pakṣisattama/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmā’s creative function is rājasic; Viriñca is also called Vidhi, emphasizing ordering/legislating of creation under the Supreme source Vāsudeva.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-doctrine applied to cosmic functions; dependent agency (kartṛtva) of secondary deities under the Supreme.

Application: Recognize rajas as the driver of projection and activity; cultivate sattva to transcend compulsive activity while honoring cosmic order; interpret ‘Vidhi’ as aligning personal action with higher order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.16; Garuda Purana 3.16.17; Garuda Purana 3.16.19; Garuda Purana 3.16.20

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Vishnu)
• Māyā
• Viriñca (Brahmā)
• Vidhi

FAQs

What is the importance of rajas in Garuda Purana’s creation teaching?

This verse links rajas (the activating guṇa) with the rise of the creator-function, identifying Brahmā (Viriñca) as the manifestation associated with rajas within Māyā.

How does this verse describe the relationship between Vāsudeva, Māyā, and Brahmā?

It states that Brahmā (called Vidhi/Viriñca) manifests from Vāsudeva through Māyā, emphasizing that the creator role operates within the realm of manifested power rather than independent supremacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that activity and ambition (rajas) can be directed as a divine instrument for constructive creation—disciplined by dharma rather than ego—since all functions ultimately rest in the Supreme.