Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

तं विचारयितुं ब्रह्मा पद्मनाडीं विवेश ह

Transliteration

taṃ vicārayituṃ brahmā padmanāḍīṃ viveśa ha

Translation

Чтобы исследовать это, Брахма вошёл в лотосовый канал (падма-нади).

Word by Word

• तम्: that (matter)/him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन

• विचारयितुम्: to investigate, to reflect upon
• विचारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √चर्/√चार् (धातु) + णिच् + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose) — ‘to consider/inquire’

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• पद्म-नाडीम्: the lotus-stalk/channel
• पद्म-नाडीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + नाडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘पद्मस्य नाडी’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed (narrative particle)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मरण/इतिहाससूचक निपात (expletive particle)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True investigation of causality requires inward penetration into subtle reality, not merely external speculation.

Vedantic Theme: Antarmukhatā (turning inward) as method for tattva-vicāra; moving from nāma-rūpa to the source.

Application: When seeking clarity, reduce sensory distraction and pursue contemplative depth (meditation, disciplined study, guided inquiry).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: subtle inner passage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.1 (entering nāḍī and contemplating Nārāyaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Padma-nāḍī

FAQs

What is the importance of padma-nāḍī (lotus-channel) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, padma-nāḍī functions as a subtle conduit associated with Brahmā’s lotus-origin imagery, indicating an inner/cosmic channel through which he proceeds to investigate a matter.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it uses the language of subtle passage (nāḍī) to depict Brahmā’s investigative movement, paralleling Purāṇic ideas of non-physical pathways.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred teachings with vicāra (careful inquiry): investigate before concluding, and recognize that Purāṇas often encode metaphysical ideas through symbolic “channels” and cosmological imagery.