Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एवं चत्वारिरूपाणि ब्रह्मणः कीर्तितानि च / वायोर्नामानि वक्ष्येहं शृणु पक्षीन्द्रसत्तम

Transliteration

evaṃ catvārirūpāṇi brahmaṇaḥ kīrtitāni ca / vāyornāmāni vakṣyehaṃ śṛṇu pakṣīndrasattama

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ നാല് രൂപങ്ങൾ കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. ഇനി ഞാൻ വായുവിന്റെ നാമങ്ങൾ പ്രസ്താവിക്കും—ഹേ പക്ഷീന്ദ്രസത്തമാ, ശ്രവിക്കൂ.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• रूपाणि: forms
• रूपाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman/Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive singular)

• कीर्तितानि: have been proclaimed
• कीर्तितानि: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तित (कृदन्त; √कीर्त्/कीर् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वायोः: of Vāyu
• वायोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I will tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन (1st person pronoun)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पक्षीन्द्रसत्तम: O best of the lord of birds (Garuda)
• पक्षीन्द्रसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षीन्द्र + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पक्षिणाम् इन्द्रः) + सत्तम (superlative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic enumeration of divine/cosmic principles; knowledge is transmitted through orderly description and attentive listening (śravaṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa as a means to right understanding; structured cosmology as a support for theistic metaphysics.

Application: Adopt disciplined learning: listen carefully, organize concepts, and integrate them into contemplation and devotion; treat enumerations as mnemonic aids for study and recitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.16; Garuda Purana 3.16.17; Garuda Purana 3.16.18; Garuda Purana 3.16.19

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vayu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Vāyu’s names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks a transition to a structured teaching where divine names (nāma) function as doctrinal identifiers—clarifying Vāyu’s roles and attributes within Purāṇic cosmology.

How does this verse fit the dialogue between Vishnu and Garuda?

Vishnu, as the teacher, signals that the prior topic (Brahmā’s four forms) is complete and instructs Garuda to listen as the discourse proceeds to Vāyu’s names—showing a sequential, didactic narration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to study systematically—completing one topic before moving to the next—and to approach sacred learning with attentive listening (śṛṇu) and discipline.