Shloka 36

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मलोको ब्राह्मणानां शाक्रः क्षत्त्रियजन्मनाम् / मारुतं च विशां स्थानं गान्धर्वं शूद्रजन्मनाम्

Transliteration

brahmaloko brāhmaṇānāṃ śākraḥ kṣattriyajanmanām / mārutaṃ ca viśāṃ sthānaṃ gāndharvaṃ śūdrajanmanām

Translation

Para os nascidos como brāhmaṇas, o reino é Brahmaloka; para os nascidos como kṣatriyas, é o mundo de Śākra (Indra). Para os vaiśyas, a morada é o mundo dos Maruts; e para os śūdras, o mundo dos Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मलोकः: Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Brahmā's world)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• शाक्रः: Śākra (Indra's realm)
• शाक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (Indra-related world: Śakra-loka)

• क्षत्त्रियजन्मनाम्: of Kshatriya-born (people)
• क्षत्त्रियजन्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of those whose birth is Kṣatriya / of Kṣatriya-born)

• मारुतम्: Māruta (realm of the Maruts)
• मारुतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (realm of Maruts/wind)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशाम्: of Vaiśyas
• विशाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्थानम्: abode/place
• स्थानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गान्धर्वम्: Gāndharva (realm of Gandharvas)
• गान्धर्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (Gandharva realm)

• शूद्रजन्मनाम्: of Śūdra-born (people)
• शूद्रजन्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of Śūdra-born)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Loka-phala: beings associated with particular varṇa-birth are linked to corresponding celestial abodes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and adhikāra: results correspond to one’s station and conduct; gradation of heavens within saṃsāra (not final mokṣa).

Application: Encourages disciplined performance of duty and ethical living; also invites reflection that heavenly attainments are conditional and impermanent compared to liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realms (lokas)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.4.37 (āśrama-based attainments)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Śakra (Indra)
• Maruts
• Gandharvas
• Brāhmaṇas
• Kṣatriyas
• Vaiśyas
• Śūdras

FAQs

What is the importance of lokas (realms) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse maps traditional heavenly destinations (Brahmaloka, Indra’s world, Maruts’ world, Gandharva-world) as outcomes associated with one’s birth group, reflecting the Purāṇic cosmology of graded realms tied to dharma and merit.

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

It indicates that the soul’s post-death trajectory can culminate in specific celestial abodes, presenting a framework where one’s social-religious station is linked to particular divine realms within the Purāṇic afterlife model.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as motivation to live by dharma—truthfulness, self-control, service, and duty—so that one’s actions (karma) align with higher destinations described in the tradition.