Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

अन्तरं ये विजानन्ति ते यान्त्यन्धन्तमः परम् / पुरुषस्तु त्रिरूपोभूद्विष्णुर्ब्रह्मा भवेतिसः

Transliteration

antaraṃ ye vijānanti te yāntyandhantamaḥ param / puruṣastu trirūpobhūdviṣṇurbrahmā bhavetisaḥ

Translation

Те, кто усматривает подлинное разделение в Высшем, уходят в высочайшую тьму неведения (андхатамас). Но Верховный Пуруша стал трёхобразным: Он же становится Вишну, Брахмой и Шивой.

Word by Word

• अन्तरम्: difference
• अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (relative pronoun)

• विजानन्ति: know, discern
• विजानन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (correlative pronoun)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अन्धतमः: blind darkness
• अन्धतमः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme, utmost
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying अन्धतमः)

• पुरुषः: the Person (Supreme Being)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• त्रि-रूपः: three-formed
• त्रि-रूपः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि रूपाणि यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुरुषः)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahma
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/becomes (as)
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निरूपण-अव्यय (quotative particle)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, doctrinal teaching on unity of the Supreme)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: To posit real separation in the Supreme leads to profound ignorance; the one Puruṣa appears threefold as Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and Śiva for cosmic functions.

Vedantic Theme: Eka-tattva with functional vyūha/trimūrti: unity of Brahman/Īśvara; bheda as avidyā; liberation through right understanding (samyag-darśana).

Application: Avoid sectarian absolutism and metaphysical fragmentation; hold a unified vision of the Divine while honoring functional diversity; study and meditate on non-separateness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: metaphorical realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages emphasizing Viṣṇu as supreme while accommodating functional forms; warnings against wrong views (mithyā-dṛṣṭi)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shiva (implied by trirūpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of Trideva unity in Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the Supreme Person manifests in three functional forms (creation, preservation, dissolution), and that treating them as ultimately separate leads to deeper ignorance rather than liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames liberation as dependent on correct metaphysical understanding: recognizing the one Supreme behind divine forms supports clarity and release, while divisive notions push the mind toward 'andhatamas'—spiritual darkness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice respectful, non-sectarian devotion and study: honor different divine forms while holding a unified vision of the Supreme, reducing conflict and strengthening inner steadiness in sadhana.