Shloka 8

An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord

Devanagari script

आविष्टरूपौ विज्ञेयौ ब्रह्मरुद्राभिधायकौ / एवं ज्ञात्वा मोक्षमेति नान्यथा तु कथञ्चन

Transliteration

āviṣṭarūpau vijñeyau brahmarudrābhidhāyakau / evaṃ jñātvā mokṣameti nānyathā tu kathañcana

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മാ, രുദ്ര എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന ഈ രണ്ടുപേരെയും ആവിഷ്ട/പ്രകട സ്വരൂപങ്ങളുള്ളവരായി അറിയുക. ഈ തത്ത്വം അറിഞ്ഞാൽ മാത്രമേ മോക്ഷം ലഭിക്കൂ; മറ്റെങ്ങനെയും അല്ല.

Word by Word

• आविष्ट-रूपौ: having assumed forms
• आविष्ट-रूपौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविष्ट (कृदन्त, √विश् धातु) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• विज्ञेयौ: to be known
• विज्ञेयौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञेय (कृदन्त, √ज्ञा धातु; विधिलिङ्गार्थे/gerundive)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be known)

• ब्रह्म-रुद्र-अभिधायकौ: designating Brahmā and Rudra
• ब्रह्म-रुद्र-अभिधायकौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिधायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मरुद्रयोः अभिधायकौ)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञात्वा (कृदन्त, √ज्ञा धातु; त्वान्त/absolutive)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः; त्वान्त कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एति: attains/goes to
• एति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• कथञ्चन: in any way (at all)
• कथञ्चन: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सर्वथा/कदाचित्-प्राय (in any way/at all)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmā and Rudra are to be known as manifested/indwelt forms (āviṣṭa-rūpau); right discernment of their status relative to the Supreme leads to liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Mokṣa through tattva-jñāna (right discrimination of īśvara and dependent manifestations); avidyā as misapprehension of divine identities.

Application: Study and contemplate deity-tattva with precision; align worship and surrender to the Supreme while respecting functional deities as empowered forms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.6-3.4.7 (indwelling and distinction); Garuda Purana 3.4.9 (penalty for wrong view)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of realizing Brahmā and Rudra in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse teaches that understanding the true status of Brahmā and Rudra as manifested forms (not ultimate separateness) is a key insight that leads to moksha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It emphasizes jñāna (right realization) as the decisive means: by knowing the underlying truth behind divine names and forms, the seeker attains liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discernment in worship—honor divine forms while pursuing inner realization of the highest truth through study, reflection, and disciplined living.