Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

जीवं प्रति महाविष्णुं पाह्याच्छादयति प्रभो / सा परा प्रकृतिर्ज्ञेया परमाच्छादिका स्मृता

Transliteration

jīvaṃ prati mahāviṣṇuṃ pāhyācchādayati prabho / sā parā prakṛtirjñeyā paramācchādikā smṛtā

Translation

பிரபோ! ஜீவனைப் பற்றிய நிலையில் அந்த பரா பிரக்ருதி மகாவிஷ்ணுவையும் ஆச்சாதிக்கிறது. அதுவே ‘பரா பிரக்ருதி’ என அறியப்பட வேண்டும்; அது ‘பரம ஆச்சாதிகை’ என நினைவுகூரப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• jīvam: the individual soul
• jīvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• prati: towards/with respect to
• prati: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/prepositional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Upasarga/avyaya used as preposition; governs accusative; ‘towards/with respect to’

• mahā-viṣṇum: Mahāviṣṇu
• mahā-viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘great Viṣṇu’

• pāhi: protect!
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• ācchādayati: covers/veils
• ācchādayati: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√chad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• prabho: O Lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• sā: she/that (one)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• parā: supreme/other
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agrees with sā/prakṛtiḥ

• prakṛtiḥ: Prakṛti (nature)
• prakṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• jñeyā: to be known
• jñeyā: Vidhi (विधि/predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त, gerundive)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; kṛtya (यत्): ‘to be known/should be known’

• parama-ācchādikā: supremely veiling
• parama-ācchādikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ācchādikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘supremely veiling’

• smṛtā: is regarded as
• smṛtā: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त, PPP)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; PPP (क्त): ‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Para-prakriti as the ultimate veiling power (parama-acchadika) in relation to the jiva; the doctrine of maya/avarana explaining bondage and perception.

Vedantic Theme: Maya as beginningless power that conditions experience; distinction between absolute reality and conditioned appearance; careful reading: ‘veils Mahavishnu’ in the sense of veiling the jiva’s apprehension of Vishnu, not limiting the Supreme in itself.

Application: Practice discernment: treat experiences as conditioned by prakriti; strengthen remembrance of Vishnu and inquiry into the seer to pierce veiling.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana adhyatma passages on prakriti, avidya, and the jiva’s bondage (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Mahavishnu
• Prakriti

FAQs

What is the importance of parā prakṛti (higher Nature) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights parā prakṛti as the supreme veiling power that obscures true knowledge, explaining why the jīva experiences limitation and misidentification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying a cosmic ‘covering’ power that hides reality, it implies the jīva’s journey is shaped by ignorance and misperception until true knowledge removes the veil.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat strong identifications and confusions as a ‘veil’ to be reduced through self-inquiry, devotion, and disciplined living, aiming for clearer discernment and ethical action.