Shloka 17

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

एकांशेन तु जीवत्वे संस्थिता नात्र संशयः / बिंबमूलं न जानन्ति ते जना ह्यसुराः स्मृताः

ekāṃśena tu jīvatve saṃsthitā nātra saṃśayaḥ / biṃbamūlaṃ na jānanti te janā hyasurāḥ smṛtāḥ

ਇੱਕ ਅੰਸ਼ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਜੀਵਤਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਥਿਤ ਹੋਣਾ—ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਸੰਦੇਹ ਨਹੀਂ। ਜੋ ਲੋਕ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਬਿੰਬ ਦੇ ਮੂਲ ਸਰੋਤ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣਦੇ, ਉਹ ‘ਅਸੁਰ’ ਮੰਨੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ।

एकांशेनby one part/portion
एकांशेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootएकांश (प्रातिपदिक: एक + अंश)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (एकस्य अंशः)
तुindeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात
जीवत्वेin the state of jīva-hood
जीवत्वे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootजीवत्व (प्रातिपदिक: जीव + त्व)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
संस्थिताare situated
संस्थिता:
Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective to implied entity)
TypeAdjective
Rootसंस्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु with सम्-उपसर्ग)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘situated/established’
not
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)
अत्रhere
अत्र:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्र (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)
संशयःdoubt
संशयः:
Karta (कर्ता; of implied ‘is’)
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
बिंबमूलम्the source of the original (bimba)
बिंबमूलम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootबिंबमूल (प्रातिपदिक: बिंब + मूल)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बिंबस्य मूलम्)
not
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निषेध
जानन्तिknow
जानन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
तेthey
ते:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootजन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘people’ (apposition to ते)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात (emphasis/causal: indeed/for)
असुराःasuras/demons
असुराः:
Karta (कर्ता; predicate noun)
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
स्मृताःare said to be
स्मृताः:
Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are called/considered’

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Concept: Jīva-hood as an aṁśa-based condition; ignorance of the मूल (root/source) of the reflection leads to asuric identification with the appearance alone.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as root of misidentification; necessity of knowing the ādhāra (Hari/Brahman) behind the apparent self; daiva/asura as epistemic-ethical orientation.

Application: Practice self-inquiry and śāstra-guided reflection to trace ‘I’ back to its source; reduce egoic absolutizing; cultivate humility and devotion to the मूल (Hari).

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.16 (viśeṣa and eka-aṁśa); Garuda Purana 3.2.18 (one Hari appears many through avidyā)

A
Asuras
J
Jiva

FAQs

This verse frames liberation-oriented knowledge as recognizing the original source behind the reflected sense of self; lacking this root-knowledge is described as an asuric (spiritually deluded) condition.

It implies that the jīva’s journey is shaped by knowledge or ignorance: seeing oneself as merely the reflection (ego-bound identity) sustains delusion, while knowing the source aligns the soul toward truth and dharma.

Cultivate self-inquiry and dharmic living—study, reflection, and disciplined conduct—to reduce ego-identification and remember the deeper source of consciousness behind changing mental states.