Shloka 6

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

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

शृकृष्ण उवाच मूलरूपे ह्यतो ज्ञेयो विष्णुत्वाद्विष्णुरव्ययः

Transliteration

śṛkṛṣṇa uvāca mūlarūpe hyato jñeyo viṣṇutvādviṣṇuravyayaḥ

Translation

ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—അതുകൊണ്ട് അവനെ മൂലരൂപത്തിൽ തന്നേ അറിയണം; സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ വിഷ്ണുത്വം കൊണ്ടു അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് അവ്യയനായ വിഷ്ണു।

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—श्री + कृष्ण (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूलरूपे: in the original form
• मूलरूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूलरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—मूलस्य रूपम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/from that)

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—ज्ञातव्यः (to be known)

• विष्णुत्वात्: because of (His) Viṣṇu-ness
• विष्णुत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (-त्व)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अव्ययः: imperishable, unchanging
• अव्ययः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as the divine instructor, identified with Viṣṇu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is to be known in the primordial/root form; His name signifies all-pervasion (viṣṇutva) and He is avyaya (imperishable).

Vedantic Theme: Nitya-avyaya Brahman/Īśvara; sarvavyāptatva (all-pervasion) and akṣaratva (imperishability) as marks of the ultimate.

Application: Meditate on Viṣṇu as the all-pervading imperishable reality; use the name ‘Viṣṇu’ as a contemplative cue for sarvavyāpti in daily awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nāma-nirukti style explanations of divine epithets; Garuda Purana: teachings on avyaya-tattva and mūla-prakṛti/parama-tattva distinctions (where present)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing the Lord in His mūla-rūpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that true understanding begins with recognizing the Supreme in His primordial, essential nature—beyond changing forms—establishing a stable basis for devotion and right knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By identifying Viṣṇu as avyaya (imperishable), the verse points the seeker toward the unchanging reality that the soul should rely upon—supporting liberation-oriented understanding rather than attachment to transient conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate remembrance of the imperishable, all-pervading Divine through daily study, mantra, and ethical living, so decisions are guided by what is lasting rather than momentary impulses.