Shloka 12
Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude
गरुड उवाच / वीर्यस्वरूपं ब्रूहि मे वासुदेव वीर्ये त्वदीये संशयो मे विभाति / किं वीर्यमीशस्य स्वरूपभूतं किं वा विभिन्नं वद साधु वेत्सि
garuḍa uvāca / vīryasvarūpaṃ brūhi me vāsudeva vīrye tvadīye saṃśayo me vibhāti / kiṃ vīryamīśasya svarūpabhūtaṃ kiṃ vā vibhinnaṃ vada sādhu vetsi
Garuḍa berkata: “Wahai Vāsudeva, jelaskan kepadaku hakikat vīrya (daya ketuhanan). Timbul keraguan dalam hatiku tentang vīrya-Mu. Adakah vīrya Tuhan itu sama dengan zat-Nya sendiri, atau sesuatu yang berbeza? Katakan dengan jelas, kerana Engkau mengetahui dengan sempurna.”
Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)
Concept: Inquiry into whether divine vīrya (power/efficacy) is identical with the Lord’s essence or distinct as an attribute.
Vedantic Theme: Śakti–śaktimān relation; svarūpa vs dharma (attribute) debate; non-dual/qualified-non-dual framing of divine powers.
Application: When facing doctrinal confusion, articulate the precise question (identity vs difference) and approach the source with humility and clarity.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring Q&A format between Garuḍa and Bhagavān on metaphysics and afterlife; Garuda Purana: discussions of māyā/śakti and Viṣṇu’s supremacy in cosmological portions
FAQs
This verse frames vīrya as a key theological concept—Garuḍa asks whether the Lord’s power is His very essence or a separate attribute, setting up a deeper explanation of God’s nature and capacities.
Indirectly: by clarifying the nature of the Lord’s power, the text prepares the foundation for understanding how divine governance, grace, and cosmic law operate—ideas that later inform teachings on karma, death, and afterlife order.
Approach spiritual teachings with precise inquiry: distinguish between essence and attributes, and seek clarity about the divine nature before applying doctrines in worship, ethics, or ritual life.