Shloka 47

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

यदा दशाब्दाः समतीता महात्मा तदा वायुः समभूल्लोकपूज्यः / किञ्चिन्न्यूनत्वं स्थूलसृष्टौ महात्मन्नैतावता वानयोः सौम्यहानिः

Transliteration

yadā daśābdāḥ samatītā mahātmā tadā vāyuḥ samabhūllokapūjyaḥ / kiñcinnyūnatvaṃ sthūlasṛṣṭau mahātmannaitāvatā vānayoḥ saumyahāniḥ

Translation

హే మహాత్మా! పది సంవత్సరాలు గడిచినప్పుడు వాయువు లోకపూజ్యుడయ్యెను. స్థూలసృష్టి నిర్మాణంలో కొంత స్వల్ప లోపం ఉన్నా, హే సౌమ్యా, అంత మాత్రాన ఇద్దరిలోనూ మంగళహాని నిజంగా కలగదు.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal conjunction/adverb: ‘when’)

• दश-अब्दाः: ten years
• दश-अब्दाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (दश अब्दाः = ten years)

• समतीताः: having elapsed
• समतीताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ati-i (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘elapsed’ (दशाब्दाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• महात्मा: O great-souled one
• महात्मा: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/वर्णनार्थे

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• वायुः: Vāyu
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समभूत्: became/arose
• समभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-bhū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfective past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (सम् + अभूत्)

• लोक-पूज्यः: worthy of worship by the worlds
• लोक-पूज्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka + pūjya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकैः पूज्यः)

• किञ्चित्: somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (a little/somewhat)

• न्यूनत्वम्: deficiency/inferiority
• न्यूनत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyūnatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• स्थूल-सृष्टौ: in the gross creation
• स्थूल-सृष्टौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthūla + sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्थूला सृष्टिः)

• महात्मन्: O great-souled one
• महात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एतावता: by this much
• एतावता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by/with this much’

• वा: or/indeed
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or/indeed)

• अनयोः: of these two
• अनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• सौम्य-हानिः: gentle/auspicious loss (diminution)
• सौम्य-हानिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya + hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सौम्या हानिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honor the sustaining principle (Vāyu) and do not overreact to slight imperfections in manifestation; auspiciousness is not negated by minor deficiency.

Vedantic Theme: Samatva (even-mindedness) toward outcomes; recognition of cosmic order beyond personal preference.

Application: In practice and life, avoid perfectionism that breeds anxiety; continue sādhana steadily, honoring foundational supports (breath, discipline) even when results seem incomplete.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.46 (Vāyu’s role across time-divisions); Garuda Purana 3.2.48 (comparison of Vāyu and Vāk; ‘lower’ as non-harmful)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vāyu becoming ‘lokapūjya’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vāyu’s established cosmic status—wind/breath as a revered sustaining force—showing how elemental deities gain recognized functions within the ordered creation.

How does this verse explain the idea of ‘deficiency’ in gross creation (sthūla-sṛṣṭi)?

It suggests that minor imperfections in material manifestation can occur without negating the overall auspicious order; the cosmic roles remain intact and are not judged solely by small irregularities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages proportionate judgment: small flaws need not cancel the value of a person’s or process’s overall goodness—focus on the larger dharmic purpose and sustained benefit.