Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 6

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

नाभिस्थोजस्तपस्तेपे वर्षाणि सुबहून्यपि / एकीभूतं जगत्सृष्टं भूतग्रामचतुर्विधम्

Transliteration

nābhisthojastapastepe varṣāṇi subahūnyapi / ekībhūtaṃ jagatsṛṣṭaṃ bhūtagrāmacaturvidham

Translation

O fulgor vital que habitava na região do umbigo praticou austeridades (tapas) por muitíssimos anos; então, do universo que estivera em unidade, surgiu o mundo criado, juntamente com a assembleia quádrupla dos seres.

Word by Word

• नाभिस्थ: situated in the navel
• नाभिस्थ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाभि-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (नाभौ स्थितः) विशेषणम् (ओजः)

• ओजः: vigor; energy (here: Brahmā/creative power)
• ओजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• सुबहूनि: very many
• सुबहूनि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषप्रायः (सु + बहु) विशेषणम् (वर्षाणि)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: emphasis/also/even)

• एकीभूतम्: unified
• एकीभूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकी-भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जगत्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जगत्)

• भूतग्रामचतुर्विधम्: the fourfold group of beings
• भूतग्रामचतुर्विधम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत-ग्राम-चतुर्विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषसमाससमूहः (भूतानां ग्रामः; चतुर्विधः) विशेषणम् (जगत्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation arises from concentrated potency (tapas/tejas) within the cosmic order; differentiation proceeds from prior unity.

Vedantic Theme: From avyakta to vyakta through īśvara-śakti; tapas as creative concentration; fourfold bhūta-sarga as ordered manifestation.

Application: Channel energy through disciplined focus; recognize that sustained inner effort precedes outward results.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana creation sequence: pralaya → yoganidrā → tapas/tejas → sṛṣṭi of bhūtas and beings

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Ojas
• Bhuta-grama

FAQs

What is the importance of ojas and tapas in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse presents creation as arising from concentrated spiritual energy (ojas) generated through austerity (tapas), indicating that sṛṣṭi proceeds from inner potency rather than random material change.

How does this verse explain the transition from unity to creation?

It states that the cosmos was initially ekībhūta (undifferentiated/one), and after tapas, the differentiated world (jagat) and the fourfold assemblage of beings manifested from that unified state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It supports disciplined living—protecting ojas through restraint, clarity, and steady practice—suggesting that sustained effort and inner focus can bring ordered outcomes in life.