Shloka 31
Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry
यदा हि कारणं चास्ति तदा कार्यमिति प्रभो / इत्यभिप्रायगर्भेण त्वं समाधास्य ते यदि
yadā hi kāraṇaṃ cāsti tadā kāryamiti prabho / ityabhiprāyagarbheṇa tvaṃ samādhāsya te yadi
Wahai Tuhan, apabila sebab itu ada, maka akibat pasti menyusul. Jika Engkau sudi meleraikan untukku keraguan yang sarat dengan maksud ini, maka jelaskanlah dengan terang.
Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu
Concept: Karya-karana-vada (cause-effect reasoning) as a doorway to resolving metaphysical doubt.
Vedantic Theme: Adhyaropa-apavada method: using logic to remove superimposed confusion and arrive at clarity.
Application: When a conclusion is asserted, examine its cause; ask for precise definitions and the chain of reasoning before accepting fear, hope, or doctrine.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.33 (fear as ignorance-effect); Garuda Purana 3.11.35 (knowledge unfolding to moksha)
FAQs
This verse frames the Purana’s ethical logic: when karmic causes are created, their results must manifest, forming the basis for later teachings on post-death consequences and dharmic living.
By asserting that effects follow causes, it supports the text’s larger account that the jīva’s post-death experiences correspond to prior actions, prompting Garuda to seek Vishnu’s clarification of the mechanism and meaning.
Treat actions, speech, and intentions as real ‘causes’ that will bear ‘effects’; cultivate dharma, restraint, and charity to shape beneficial outcomes for oneself and others.