Shloka 1

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

नाम प्रथमो ऽध्यायः श्रीशौनक उवाच / कथं ससर्ज भगवांस्तत्तत्तत्त्वाभिमानिनः / सृष्टिक्रमं न जानामि देवानां ह्यन्तरं मुने

Transliteration

nāma prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīśaunaka uvāca / kathaṃ sasarja bhagavāṃstattattattvābhimāninaḥ / sṛṣṭikramaṃ na jānāmi devānāṃ hyantaraṃ mune

Translation

പ്രഥമ അധ്യായം (നാമം). ശ്രീശൗനകൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഭഗവാൻ ഓരോ തത്ത്വത്തോടും അഭിമാനം പുലർത്തുന്ന സത്തകളെ എങ്ങനെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു? ഹേ മുനേ, സൃഷ്ടിക്രമവും ദേവന്മാരിലെ വ്യത്യാസവും എനിക്ക് അറിയില്ല.

Word by Word

• nāma: named / indeed
• nāma: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb/Particle

• prathamaḥ: first
• prathamaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• śrīśaunakaḥ: Sri Shaunaka
• śrīśaunakaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīśaunaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• katham: how
• katham: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

• sasarja: created
• sasarja: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• tat-tat-tattva-abhimāninaḥ: the presiding deities of those respective elements
• tat-tat-tattva-abhimāninaḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattattattvābhimānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural

• sṛṣṭi-kramam: order of creation
• sṛṣṭi-kramam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• jānāmi: I know
• jānāmi: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, Uttama Purusha (1st), Singular

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/Reason)

• antaram: difference / hierarchy
• antaram: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• mune: O Sage
• mune: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Śrī Śaunaka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inquiry into srishti-krama: how Bhagavan projects beings identified with tattvas; distinguishing classes of devas and principles.

Vedantic Theme: Tattva-abhimana (identification with principles) as a key to bondage and cosmological manifestation; ordered causality (karya-karana) under Ishvara.

Application: Use cosmological inquiry to refine self-understanding: notice identifications (body/mind/roles) and trace them back to their causes; cultivate discrimination and humility in learning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-ashram

Cross References

Related Themes: 3.2.2–3.2.3 (Suta’s response; Garuda’s parallel question to Hari); Garuda Purana cosmology sections in the same adhyaya on srishti-krama

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Blessed Lord)
• Devas
• Muni (the sage addressed)

FAQs

What is the importance of tattva (principle) and tattva-abhimāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames creation as involving beings who develop identification (abhimāna) with specific cosmic principles (tattvas), a key idea for understanding how individuality and hierarchy arise in Purāṇic cosmology.

How does this verse explain the sequence of creation (sṛṣṭi-krama)?

It introduces the inquiry: Śaunaka requests a structured account of how the Lord produced beings aligned with different tattvas, setting up a step-by-step creation narrative in the following verses.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reflect on how identification with roles, elements, or mental states shapes experience; reducing rigid “I am this” identification supports clarity, humility, and dharmic living.