Shloka 35

An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord

Devanagari script

तावता व्यवहारः स्यात्क्षीरनीरमिव प्रभो / श्रुत्वा स गरुडेनोक्तं भगवान्पुरुषोत्तमः

Transliteration

tāvatā vyavahāraḥ syātkṣīranīramiva prabho / śrutvā sa garuḍenoktaṃ bhagavānpuruṣottamaḥ

Translation

ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਉਤਨੀ ਹੀ ਹੱਦ ਤੱਕ ਵਿਵਹਾਰ ਹੋਵੇ—ਜਿਵੇਂ ਦੁੱਧ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਖਰਾ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਗਰੁੜ ਦੇ ਬਚਨ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ੋਤਮ ਨੇ ਉੱਤਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

Word by Word

• तावता: to that extent
• तावता: Pramana (प्रमाण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (instrumental singular used adverbially): ‘तावता’ = ‘तत्परिमाणेन/तावत्-पर्यन्तम्’

• व्यवहारः: distinction/transaction (practical differentiation)
• व्यवहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be/should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षीर-नीरम्: milk-and-water
• क्षीर-नीरम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + नीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (‘milk and water’)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (particle of comparison)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having heard’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गरुडेन: by Garuḍa
• गरुडेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उक्तम्: what was said
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said’ (object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमः: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘उत्तमः पुरुषः’)

Speaker

Narrator (transitioning to Lord Vishnu after hearing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discriminative separation) as the proper way to handle subtle distinctions—like separating milk and water—before proceeding to doctrine.

Vedantic Theme: Discrimination between categories (guṇas, measures, parts) is preparatory to higher knowledge; clarity precedes realization.

Application: Adopt ‘milk-water’ discernment in daily decisions: separate essentials from noise (values vs impulses), then act; in study, define terms and boundaries before conclusions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.34 (the doubt that prompts the response); Garuda Purana 3.4.36+ (expected continuation: Viṣṇu’s detailed answer on rāśi/parts and predominance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu (Puruṣottama)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “milk and water” comparison in this Garuda Purana verse?

It signals discernment and clear separation of points in the discussion—handling the topic in an orderly, discriminating way before Vishnu gives the authoritative reply.

How does this verse fit the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue structure in the Garuda Purana?

It functions as a narrative hinge: Garuḍa has spoken/asked, and now Puruṣottama (Vishnu) is about to answer, marking the shift from query to divine instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach moral and ritual questions with viveka (discernment): separate essentials from non-essentials, then act according to dharma with clarity.