Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

सृष्टवानुदराद्राश्च पार्श्वाभ्यां च प्रजापतिः / पद्य्भां चैवान्त्यमातङ्गान्महिषोष्ट्राविकांस्तथा

Transliteration

sṛṣṭavānudarādrāśca pārśvābhyāṃ ca prajāpatiḥ / padybhāṃ caivāntyamātaṅgānmahiṣoṣṭrāvikāṃstathā

Translation

उदराद्राक्षसान् सृष्ट्वा पार्श्वाभ्यां च प्रजापतिः। पादाभ्यां चान्त्यजातान् वै, मातङ्गान् महिषोष्ट्राविकान् तथा॥

Word by Word

• सृष्टवान्: having created
• सृष्टवान्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उदरात्: from the belly
• उदरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राः: (a class of beings/animals) ‘rā’
• राः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘रास्/राः’ इति पशुविशेष-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पाठभेदसम्भवः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• पार्श्वाभ्याम्: by/from the two sides (flanks)
• पार्श्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (करण)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• प्रजापतिः: Prajapati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)

• पद्य्भ्याम्: from/with the two feet
• पद्य्भ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (करण); पाठः ‘पद्य्भ्याम्’ = ‘पद्भ्याम्’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• अन्त्य: last/final
• अन्त्य: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मातङ्गान्: elephants
• मातङ्गान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महिषोष्ट्राविकान्: buffaloes, camels, and sheep
• महिषोष्ट्राविकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष + उष्ट्र + अविका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (महिषाश्च उष्ट्राश्च अविकाश्च)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Macrocosm–microcosm mapping: the creator’s body symbolizes differentiated functions and levels of manifestation (higher/lower births).

Vedantic Theme: Virāṭ conception: the world as divine body; apparent hierarchy belongs to nāma-rūpa, while essence remains one.

Application: Cultivate reverence for living beings and ecological responsibility; recognize symbolic ‘lower’ origins do not justify cruelty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmogonic/primordial space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana creation accounts and later ethical sections on non-injury toward animals (thematic linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Rakshasas
• Elephants
• Buffalo
• Camel
• Sheep

FAQs

What is the importance of Prajapati’s body-based creation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses symbolic “body-origins” (belly, sides, feet) to map a creation-sequence and hierarchy of beings, illustrating how diverse life-forms arise from the creative power of Prajāpati.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it provides cosmological background—how different categories of beings originate—within the broader Vishnu–Garuda teaching framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages a contemplative view of life’s diversity as part of a sacred cosmic order, supporting humility and dharmic conduct toward all beings.