Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

विष्णोः स्वरूपभूतं च ये विजानन्ति ते नराः / ते यान्ति ह्यधरं लोकं तथा तत्संगिसंगिनः

Transliteration

viṣṇoḥ svarūpabhūtaṃ ca ye vijānanti te narāḥ / te yānti hyadharaṃ lokaṃ tathā tatsaṃgisaṃginaḥ

Translation

ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਵਿਸ਼ਨੂ ਦੇ ਸਰੂਪ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਉਹ ਅਧੋਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ; ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੰਗੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਵੀ ਸੰਗੀ ਉਹੀ ਗਤੀ ਪਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• स्वरूप-भूतम्: (that which is) of the nature (of Viṣṇu)
• स्वरूप-भूतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('having become/being the very nature'); क्त-प्रत्यय (भू→भूत); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (यत्) कर्मरूपेण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• विजानन्ति: know/understand
• विजानन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: कर्ता (Apposition to 'ते')
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal particle)

• अधरम्: lower
• अधरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; लोकम्-विशेषण

• लोकम्: world/realm
• लोकम्: कर्म (Destination/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• तत्-सङ्गि-सङ्गिनः: those associated with their associates
• तत्-सङ्गि-सङ्गिनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (relation: 'companions of the companions of them/that'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Misconceiving or falsely claiming comprehension of Viṣṇu’s svarūpa leads to spiritual downfall; wrong association propagates error.

Vedantic Theme: Acintyatva/anirvacanīyatva of the Supreme; danger of avidyā and pramāda in metaphysical assertions; satsanga vs. dussanga.

Application: Cultivate epistemic humility; rely on śāstra and qualified teachers; avoid sectarian or speculative claims about the Absolute; choose elevating company.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.22-25 (discussion of forms, insignia, and the unknowability of sameness/difference)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of right understanding of Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that claiming or holding a misguided understanding about Viṣṇu’s essential nature leads to downfall, emphasizing the need for correct doctrine and humility in spiritual knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It states that erroneous views and spiritual misguidance can propel a being toward “lower worlds” (adhara-loka), showing that belief and association shape post-death destinations alongside actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose teachers and communities carefully, avoid spreading confident claims about ultimate reality without scriptural grounding, and cultivate satsanga (uplifting association) to protect one’s ethics and worldview.