Shloka 11

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

व्योम्नो दशगुणैरेवं समन्तात्परिवारि तम् / षष्ठमावरणं प्रोक्तं महत्तत्त्वं खगेश्वर

Transliteration

vyomno daśaguṇairevaṃ samantātparivāri tam / ṣaṣṭhamāvaraṇaṃ proktaṃ mahattattvaṃ khageśvara

Translation

Demikianlah, dengan mengelilingi ruang (vyoma) dari segenap arah dengan gandaan sepuluh, āvaraṇa kosmik yang keenam dinyatakan sebagai Mahat-tattva, wahai raja segala burung (Garuda).

Word by Word

• व्योम्नः: of/from the sky/ether
• व्योम्नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; (अर्थतः ‘व्योम्नः’ = ‘व्योमात्’ इति अपादानार्थे षष्ठी/पाठभेद सम्भवः)

• दशगुणैः: by tenfold measures
• दशगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशगुण (प्रातिपदिक; दश + गुण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (परिवारितम् इत्यस्य)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• परिवारितम्: is surrounded
• परिवारितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √वृ (धातु) → परिवारित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• षष्ठम्: sixth
• षष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (आवरणम् इत्यस्य)

• आवरणम्: covering
• आवरणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अस्ति इति अध्याहार्य)

• महत्तत्त्वम्: the Mahat-tattva (great principle)
• महत्तत्त्वम्: Samjna (संज्ञा/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + तत्त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (षष्ठमावरणस्य नाम)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beyond ego lies Mahat—the universal ordering intelligence; the cosmos is nested within progressively subtler principles.

Vedantic Theme: From vyashti (individual) to samashti (cosmic): mind/ego are contained within a larger cosmic principle; supports contemplation on the universality of buddhi.

Application: Cultivate sattvic buddhi: practice ethical clarity, study, and meditation to align personal intellect with universal order rather than egoic impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tattva-āvaraṇa (subtle principle covering)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.10.10 (ahaṅkāra as fifth); Garuda Purana 3.10.12 (triguṇa covering as seventh)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Mahat-tattva
• Vyoma (Akasha/Space)

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat-tattva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Mahat-tattva as a cosmic enclosure beyond (and tenfold to) space, highlighting Mahat as the universal intelligence that functions as a higher principle in the layered structure of creation.

How does this verse explain the structure of the universe?

It presents the universe as layered by successive ‘āvaraṇas’ (enclosures), each expanding tenfold and surrounding the previous layer; here, Mahat-tattva is taught as the sixth such surrounding principle.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplating layered cosmology supports detachment and disciplined living: one can cultivate clarity (buddhi) by remembering that the mind and world are nested within larger principles, encouraging ethical choices and steadiness.