Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु गोविन्दोब्रवीत्तत्रापि कारणम् / भयं त्वज्ञानकार्यं स्यात्कार्याकारणमत्र हि

Transliteration

evamuktastu govindobravīttatrāpi kāraṇam / bhayaṃ tvajñānakāryaṃ syātkāryākāraṇamatra hi

Translation

இவ்வாறு கேட்டபோது கோவிந்தன் அங்கேயும் காரணத்தைச் சொன்னான்—பயம் என்பது உண்மையில் அறியாமையின் விளைவு; இங்கு காரண-காரியத் தொடர்பு நெருக்கமானது.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• उक्तः: having been addressed/said to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: उक्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गोविन्दः इति विशेषणम्

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there/in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद—अब्रवीत् इति

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• अज्ञान-कार्यम्: an effect of ignorance
• अज्ञान-कार्यम्: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘effect of ignorance’ (भयम् इति समानााधिकरणम्)

• स्यात्: would be/is (as a conclusion)
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कार्य-अकारणम्: an effect without a cause (impossible)
• कार्य-अकारणम्: Karma (कर्म/understood predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य + अकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘having no cause as an effect’/‘uncaused effect’—वाक्ये विधेय/विशेषणरूपेण

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here/in this context)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Govinda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhaya is an effect (karya) produced by ajnana (avidya) as its cause (karana).

Vedantic Theme: Avidya-karya: emotions like fear belong to the mind under ignorance, not to Brahman/Atman; remove ignorance to remove fear.

Application: Treat fear as a cognitive symptom: identify the mistaken belief, apply discrimination (viveka), and stabilize attention in the witnessing Self.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.31 (cause-effect framing); Garuda Purana 3.11.34 (Brahman free of ignorance)

Characters & Entities

• Govinda

FAQs

What is the root cause of fear according to this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse states that fear (bhaya) is produced by ignorance (ajñāna); when true understanding arises, fear diminishes.

How does this verse connect cause and effect (kārya-kāraṇa) in spiritual life?

It frames fear as an effect and ignorance as its cause, emphasizing that inner states follow lawful causality just like external events.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce fear by addressing its cause—cultivate clear knowledge through study, reflection, and disciplined living rather than only treating symptoms.