Shloka 32

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच / यथा पप्रच्छ मां व्यास स्तथासौ भगवान् भवः / पप्रच्छ विष्णुं देवाद्यैः शृण्वताममरैः सह

Transliteration

brahmovāca / yathā papraccha māṃ vyāsa stathāsau bhagavān bhavaḥ / papraccha viṣṇuṃ devādyaiḥ śṛṇvatāmamaraiḥ saha

Translation

பிரம்மா கூறினார்—வியாசர் என்னை எவ்வாறு வினவினாரோ, அவ்வாறே பகவான் பவ (சிவன்) தேவர்களின் முதன்மையோடு அமரர்கள் கேட்க விஷ்ணுவை வினவினார்.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner adverb)

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘asked’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम — Accusative singular

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine nominative singular

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम — Nominative singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine nominative singular

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine nominative singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine accusative singular

• देवाद्यैः: with gods and others
• देवाद्यैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; ‘with the gods and others’

• शृण्वताम्: while (they were) listening / of the listeners
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → शृण्वत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; षष्ठी, बहुवचन — Genitive plural ‘of (those) listening’

• अमरैः: with the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (prepositional adverb) — ‘together with’

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimacy of teaching through lineage and public śravaṇa: the same question asked by Vyāsa is echoed by Bhava to Viṣṇu before the devas.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra as pramāṇa mediated by sampradāya; knowledge arises through inquiry (praśna) and listening (śravaṇa).

Application: Seek teachings through reliable lineages; cultivate attentive listening in satsanga before forming conclusions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.31 (Rudra’s approach); Garuda Purana 1.2.33-35 (Rudra’s questions)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vyasa
• Bhava (Shiva)
• Vishnu
• Devas
• Amaras (immortals)

FAQs

What is the importance of this dialogue setup in the Garuda Purana?

It establishes the authority and transmission line of the teaching: Vyāsa questions Brahmā, and similarly Śiva questions Viṣṇu in the presence of the devas.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda–Viṣṇu conversation?

It frames the Purāṇic method of teaching as a chain of inquiry and response among divine and sage authorities, preparing the listener for Viṣṇu’s forthcoming exposition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred subjects through sincere questioning and attentive listening—learning from reliable sources and preserving teachings accurately.