Shloka 39

Sṛṣṭi-krama: Brahmā’s Sequential Creation of Devas, Sages, and Sense-Presiding Powers

Devanagari script

स्वाहां विनिर्ममे ब्रह्मा तामाहुर्मन्त्रदेवताम् / अग्नेरनन्तरं वीन्द्र भृगुं ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमम्

Transliteration

svāhāṃ vinirmame brahmā tāmāhurmantradevatām / agneranantaraṃ vīndra bhṛguṃ brahmarṣisattamam

Translation

Brahmā mencipta Svāhā; beliau diisytiharkan sebagai dewi penaung bagi mantra-mantra. Lalu sejurus selepas Agni, wahai yang termulia antara burung, (Dia mencipta) Bhṛgu, yang terunggul dalam kalangan Brahmarṣi.

Word by Word

• स्वाहाम्: Svāhā
• स्वाहाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनिर्ममे: created
• विनिर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मा (धातु) + वि + निर् (उपसर्गौ)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आहुः: they call
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they said/call’

• मन्त्र-देवताम्: the deity of the mantra
• मन्त्र-देवताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मन्त्रस्य देवता’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ताम् इति विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• अग्नेः: after Agni / of Agni
• अग्नेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनन्तरम्: afterwards
• अनन्तरम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘afterwards/next’

• वीन्द्र: O Vīndra (O Indra/hero)
• वीन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘O best of heroes/Indra’

• भृगुम्: Bhṛgu
• भृगुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मर्षि-सत्तमम्: the best of Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्मर्षि-सत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारण: ‘ब्रह्मर्षीणां सत्तमः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भृगुम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yajña-dharma is grounded in presiding powers: Svāhā embodies the offering-call that carries oblations to Agni; Bhṛgu represents ṛṣi-lineage sustaining mantra and ritual knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Devata-adhyāsa on sound and action: sacred speech (mantra) functions through intelligible order (ṛta) and its presiding intelligence.

Application: In ritual or daily prayer, pronounce ‘svāhā’ with attention and purity of intent; honor teacher-lineages (ṛṣi-smaraṇa) before mantra-japa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.13 (creation of devatās/ṛṣis connected to yajña and mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Svaha
• Agni
• Bhrigu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Svāhā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Svāhā as the mantra-deity connected with offerings, explaining her ritual authority behind uttering “svāhā” in Vedic oblations.

How does this verse relate to Vedic ritual (homa) practice?

By calling Svāhā the presiding deity of mantras and placing her in relation to Agni, it links mantra, fire, and offering—core elements of homa—into a single theological framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In any fire-ritual or devotional offering, treat mantra-recitation as sacred and disciplined—clarity, correctness, and intention matter because mantras are understood to have presiding divine principles.