Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच / पुराणं गारुडं सारं रुद्रं च मां यथा / सुरैः सहाब्रवीद्विष्णुस्तथाहं व्यास वच्मिते

Transliteration

brahmovāca / purāṇaṃ gāruḍaṃ sāraṃ rudraṃ ca māṃ yathā / suraiḥ sahābravīdviṣṇustathāhaṃ vyāsa vacmite

Translation

బ్రహ్మదేవుడు పలికెను—పూర్వం దేవతలతో కూడి విష్ణువు నాకు గారుడ పురాణసారమును మరియు రుద్ర పురాణమును చెప్పినట్లే, ఓ వ్యాసా, నేనిప్పుడు నీకు ప్రకటించుచున్నాను.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गारुडम्: Gāruḍa
• गारुडम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• यथा: as
• यथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थक अव्यय (as/how)

• सुरैः: with the gods
• सुरैः: Sahakari/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (with)

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

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: so/in the same way
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्वत्/एवम्-अर्थक अव्यय (thus/in the same way)

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

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th case), एकवचन

• वच्मि: I speak/tell
• वच्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th case) एकवचन (सम्प्रदान) / वा षष्ठी एकवचन; अत्र दातृ-अर्थे चतुर्थी

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purāṇic knowledge is rooted in Viṣṇu’s speech; hearing/receiving it is a devotional act grounded in divine revelation.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as ultimate source of śāstra; śabda-pramāṇa; grace-mediated knowledge through paramparā.

Application: Treat scriptural study as sādhana: listen with devotion, preserve fidelity to source, and transmit responsibly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.10 (Brahmā’s journey to Kailāsa begins)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Vyasa
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Devas (Suras)
• Garuda (as the Purana’s referent)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Garuda Purana’s transmission lineage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse establishes a sacred teaching lineage—Viṣṇu instructs Brahmā in the presence of the Devas, and Brahmā passes it to Vyāsa—supporting the text’s authority and reliability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not yet describe the soul’s journey directly; it serves as a preface that legitimizes the coming teachings, which later include death rites and post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach teachings on dharma, rituals, and ethics through authentic sources and disciplined study, honoring the principle of learning through a reliable tradition (paramparā).