Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

चन्द्रादित्यौ च नयने तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् / यस्य त्रिलोकी जठरे मस्य काष्ठाश्च बाहवः

Transliteration

candrādityau ca nayane taṃ devaṃ cintayāmyaham / yasya trilokī jaṭhare masya kāṣṭhāśca bāhavaḥ

Translation

చంద్రసూర్యులు యెవని నేత్రములో, ఆ దేవుని నేను ధ్యానించుచున్నాను; యెవని జఠరములో త్రిలోకము నివసించునో, ఆయన మాంసము భూమి, భుజములు వృక్షములు।

Word by Word

• चन्द्रादित्यौ: the moon and the sun
• चन्द्रादित्यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (moon and sun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• नयने: (two) eyes
• नयने: Sambandha (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विधेय-सम्बन्धे (as predicate: are the two eyes)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• चिन्तयामि: I contemplate
• चिन्तयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• त्रिलोकी: the three worlds
• त्रिलोकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (three worlds as a collective)

• जठरे: in the belly
• जठरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• मस्य: of (uncertain reading: flesh/fat etc.)
• मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस् (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पाठे ‘मस्य’ अस्पष्टः—सम्भाव्यं ‘मांस’/‘मेदस्’ इत्यादि; सम्बन्धे (of ...)

• काष्ठाः: trees/wood
• काष्ठाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• बाहवः: arms
• बाहवः: Sambandha (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/Devotional voice within the chapter (hymnic meditation; not a direct Vishnu–Garuda dialogue line)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation on the Lord as cosmic person: Sun and Moon as eyes; three worlds within the belly; earth as flesh; trees as arms.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin and jagad-ādhāra; the cosmos as a functional ‘body’ for contemplation (upāsanā) leading toward nondual insight.

Application: Use a guided visualization in japa/meditation: place sun-moon as divine eyes, feel the worlds held within; cultivate ecological reverence (trees as divine arms) and non-separative perception.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana opening hymnic sections that employ viśvarūpa imagery as a contemplative preface to later teachings

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)
• Aditya (Sun)
• Triloka (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishvarupa (cosmic form) meditation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the deity as the universe itself—Sun and Moon as eyes and the three worlds within—guiding the devotee toward reverence, inner steadiness, and a non-dual vision of creation.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey taught in the Garuda Purana?

By contemplating the Lord as the all-encompassing cosmos, the mind is trained to detach from fear and fragmentation—an inner preparedness that supports the text’s broader teachings on death, transition, and spiritual orientation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a short daily dhyāna: visualize the divine as present in all beings and nature, cultivating humility, restraint, and ethical living grounded in sacred interconnectedness.