Shloka 30

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच / इत्युक्तो ऽहं पुरा रुद्रः श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनम् / स्तुत्वा प्रणम्य तं विष्णुं श्रोतुकाम स्थितः सुरैः

Transliteration

brahmovāca / ityukto 'haṃ purā rudraḥ śvetadvīpanivāsinam / stutvā praṇamya taṃ viṣṇuṃ śrotukāma sthitaḥ suraiḥ

Translation

พรหมาตรัสว่า—เมื่อถูกกล่าวเช่นนั้น ครั้งก่อนข้าพเจ้าพร้อมด้วยรุทระได้สรรเสริญและนอบน้อมแด่พระวิษณุผู้ประทับ ณ เศวตทวีป แล้วจึงยืนอยู่พร้อมหมู่เทวดา ด้วยความปรารถนาจะสดับพระดำรัส

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been addressed/told
• उक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; √वच्

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

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनम्: the dweller of Śvetadvīpa
• श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—श्वेतद्वीपे निवासिन् (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); √स्तु

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); उपसर्गः—प्र; √नम्

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

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोतुकामः: desirous to hear
• श्रोतुकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोतुम् (तुमुनन्त) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—श्रोतुम् कामः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• स्थितः: stood, remained
• स्थितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; √स्था

• सुरैः: with the gods
• सुरैः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Brahmā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even highest deities approach Vishnu with praise and prostration; śravaṇa (eager listening) is a primary means of receiving truth.

Vedantic Theme: Supremacy of Narayana/Ishvara; humility of cosmic powers before the Absolute; śravaṇa as gateway to jnana and bhakti.

Application: Adopt the posture of a listener: begin study with pranama and stuti; cultivate receptivity (śravaṇa) before debate or analysis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred island/realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.30 (Brahma’s narration frame begins)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Rudra (Śiva)
• Viṣṇu
• Śvetadvīpa
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śvetadvīpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śvetadvīpa as Viṣṇu’s divine abode, a setting that underscores his supremacy and the sanctity of receiving instruction directly from him.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames the teaching method—reverence (stuti), surrender (praṇāma), and attentive listening (śravaṇa)—as the proper approach to receiving liberating knowledge later applied to dharma and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred study with humility and devotion—begin with reverence, cultivate receptivity, and listen carefully before forming conclusions or practices.