Shloka 28

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

तस्मात्तद्वास्तवं नास्ति ब्रह्मवाय्वोः खगेश्वर / स्वप्नावस्थायाः सदृशी ह्यवस्था सुप्तिसंज्ञिका

Transliteration

tasmāttadvāstavaṃ nāsti brahmavāyvoḥ khageśvara / svapnāvasthāyāḥ sadṛśī hyavasthā suptisaṃjñikā

Translation

Maka, wahai Khageśvara, keadaan itu bukanlah hakikat yang sebenar bagi Brahmā dan Vāyu; ia ialah keadaan yang dinamai “tidur”, menyerupai keadaan mimpi.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablative sense)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वास्तवम्: real/actual
• वास्तवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वास्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मवाय्वोः: of Brahmā and Vāyu
• ब्रह्मवाय्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (‘-ओः’)

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

• स्वप्न-अवस्थायाः: of the dream-state
• स्वप्न-अवस्थायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—स्वप्नस्य अवस्था (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सदृशी: similar
• सदृशी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अवस्था)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात

• अवस्था: state/condition
• अवस्था: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुप्तिसंज्ञिका: called ‘sleep’
• सुप्तिसंज्ञिका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्ति + संज्ञिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अवस्था); समासः—सुप्ति-संज्ञा यस्याः/या (तत्पुरुष; ‘named sleep’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The supposed binding of Brahmā and Vāyu is not ultimately real; it is comparable to dream and belongs to the ‘sleep’ designation—indicating relativity of experienced states.

Vedantic Theme: Avasthā-traya viveka; mithyātva (dependent reality) of experienced conditions; dream analogy to negate ultimate reality of certain appearances.

Application: Practice witnessing: compare waking certainties with dream experiences to loosen absolutizing tendencies; cultivate discernment that many ‘constraints’ are state-dependent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.26 (sleep as sense-withdrawal); Garuda Purana 3.11.29-30 (existence only in a certain vṛtti; sleep as ignorance-effect)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Brahma
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of the dream-like sleep state (supti) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames “supti” as a state resembling dream, emphasizing that certain experienced conditions are not ultimately real, and should be understood as transient modes of consciousness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing a dream-like condition, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that the jīva can pass through subtle, mind-dependent states; discernment of what is truly real is essential when describing post-death or subtle experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat intense experiences—fear, desire, and mental imagery—as temporary like dreams; cultivate steadiness through dharma, self-control, and remembrance of the Self beyond changing states.