Shloka 7

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

तस्माहुद्धिर्मनस्तस्मात्ततः खं पवन स्ततः / तस्मात्तेजस्ततस्त्वापस्ततो भूमिस्ततो ऽभवत्

Transliteration

tasmāhuddhirmanastasmāttataḥ khaṃ pavana stataḥ / tasmāttejastatastvāpastato bhūmistato 'bhavat

Translation

Daripadanya lahir buddhi (akal budi); daripadanya lahir manas (fikiran). Lalu muncul ākāśa (eter), dan daripada eter lahir angin. Daripada angin lahir api; daripada api lahir air; dan daripada air terjadilah bumi.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that/from him
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that/from him
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ततः: thereafter/from there
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रमसूचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb: thence/thereafter)

• खम्: space/ether
• खम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पवनः: wind/air
• पवनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• तस्मात्: from that/from him
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेजः: fire/energy, brilliance
• तेजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्/आपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• भूमिः: earth
• भूमिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• अभवत्: came into being
• अभवत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Emanation sequence from the causal source: buddhi → manas → ākāśa → vāyu → tejas → āpas → pṛthivī.

Vedantic Theme: Sāṅkhya-style tattva evolution employed within a theistic frame; the many arise in ordered dependence, implying a unifying cause beyond the chain.

Application: Use the sequence for contemplative ‘involution’: trace experience back from earth/water/fire/wind/space to mind and intellect, then to the source—supporting meditation and detachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmology sections enumerating bhūtas and inner instruments (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of the element-creation sequence in the Garuda Purana?

This verse summarizes the classical Vedic/Sāṅkhya-style progression from inner faculties (buddhi, manas) to the gross elements, grounding later teachings about embodiment and the cosmos.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing how mind and intellect precede the gross elements, it implies that the jīva’s experience is mediated through subtle faculties before engaging the physical body made of the five elements.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivating buddhi (discernment) to guide manas (mind) helps regulate actions in the material world, supporting dharmic living and inner clarity.