Shloka 57

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

Devanagari script

पञ्च भेदा इमे नित्यं सर्वावस्थासु सर्वशः / एतादृश्यां तु मायायां वीर्यमाधत्त वीर्यवान्

Transliteration

pañca bhedā ime nityaṃ sarvāvasthāsu sarvaśaḥ / etādṛśyāṃ tu māyāyāṃ vīryamādhatta vīryavān

Translation

ഈ അഞ്ചു ഭേദങ്ങൾ എല്ലാ അവസ്ഥകളിലും എല്ലാ രീതിയിലും നിത്യമായി നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു. ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള മായാപ്രകടനത്തിൽ ശക്തിമാൻ തന്റെ ശക്തിയെ ധരിച്ചു സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (संख्या/अव्यय)
• Form: Numeral indeclinable (संख्यावाचक अव्यय)

• bhedāḥ: differences
• bhedāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ime: these
• ime: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘always’

• sarva-avasthāsu: in all states/conditions
• sarva-avasthāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; कर्मधारयः ‘all states/conditions’

• sarvaśaḥ: in every way
• sarvaśaḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय), ‘in every way/entirely’

• etādṛśyām: in such (a)
• etādṛśyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etādṛśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with māyāyām

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• māyāyām: in māyā (illusion/power)
• māyāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vīryam: power, potency
• vīryam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ādhatta: placed, infused, deposited
• ādhatta: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ/लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vīryavān: the powerful one
• vīryavān: Karta (कर्ता/agent; subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; possessive adjective

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pañca-bheda (fivefold distinctions) are eternal across all states; within māyā’s manifestation the powerful Lord establishes potency (śakti/ vīrya).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as māyā-adhiṣṭhātā: the Lord’s power governs differentiated reality; distinction is not accidental but structured under divine sovereignty.

Application: Contemplate the world as ordered by divine śakti rather than random; cultivate humility and devotion while maintaining discernment of categories in thought and conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.56 (enumerative distinctions); Garuda Purana 3.3.58 (guṇa creation as expression of potency)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of the “five distinctions (pañca-bheda)” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse affirms that fundamental distinctions operate perpetually across all states of existence, framing how the world of experience functions under Māyā.

How does this verse explain the role of Māyā in spiritual understanding?

It presents Māyā as the arena in which differentiated experience appears, while indicating that the divine—described as “vīryavān”—actively assumes and manifests potency within that field.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that worldly differences persist in lived experience, yet cultivate discernment and steadiness by remembering that power and order operate through Māyā—encouraging disciplined, dharmic action without confusion.