Shloka 4

Paramparā (Transmission) and Viṣaya-Saṅgraha (Scope) of the Garuḍa Purāṇa

Devanagari script

अङ्गानि प्रलयो धर्मकामार्थज्ञानमुत्तमम् / सप्रपञ्चं निष्प्रपञ्चं कृतं विष्णोर्निगद्यते

Transliteration

aṅgāni pralayo dharmakāmārthajñānamuttamam / saprapañcaṃ niṣprapañcaṃ kṛtaṃ viṣṇornigadyate

Translation

अङ्गानि प्रलयो धर्मकामार्थज्ञानमुत्तमम् । सप्रपञ्चं निष्प्रपञ्चं कृतं विष्णोर्निगद्यते ॥

Word by Word

• अङ्गानि: limbs/sections
• अङ्गानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• प्रलयः: dissolution (cosmic)
• प्रलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• धर्मकामार्थज्ञानम्: dharma, kāma, artha, and knowledge
• धर्मकामार्थज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + काम + अर्थ + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (धर्मश्च कामश्च अर्थश्च ज्ञानं च)

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative: best/supreme)

• सप्रपञ्चम्: with the manifested world
• सप्रपञ्चम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारय (प्रपञ्चेन सह = 'with manifestation')

• निष्प्रपञ्चम्: without manifestation
• निष्प्रपञ्चम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/उपपद (निः-प्रपञ्च = 'without manifestation')

• कृतम्: made/created
• कृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) — 'done/made'

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• निगद्यते: is declared
• निगद्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु) उपसर्ग: नि-
• Form: लट्-लकार; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive) — 'is declared/said'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu as the ground of both pravṛtti (with manifestation, saprapañca) and nivṛtti (beyond manifestation, niṣprapañca); puruṣārthas and highest knowledge are encompassed in Him.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as upādāna-nimitta-kāraṇa (material and efficient cause); relation of vyavahāra (world) and paramārtha (transcendence).

Application: See duties and desires within a larger theistic-metaphysical frame; cultivate devotion and discernment—engage the world responsibly while remembering its dependence on Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on pralaya, puruṣārthas, and Viṣṇu-stuti; later mokṣa-oriented teachings in dialogue form

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of saprapañca and niṣprapañca in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames both the manifested cosmos (saprapañca) and the transcendent, unmanifest state (niṣprapañca) as dependent on Viṣṇu, linking worldly order and liberation-oriented metaphysics under one divine source.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By placing dharma, artha, kāma, and the highest knowledge within Viṣṇu’s order, the verse implies a progression from regulated worldly aims to jñāna that culminates in transcending prapañca (the world of multiplicity).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Pursue artha and kāma under dharma, and prioritize jñāna (self-knowledge and devotion) so life’s goals align with spiritual freedom rather than mere worldly attachment.