Shloka 34

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

औदकाः पशवः षष्ठाः सप्तमाश्च सरीसृपाः / पूर्वादिभ्यो मुखेभ्यस्तु ऋग्वेदाद्याः प्रजज्ञिरे

Transliteration

audakāḥ paśavaḥ ṣaṣṭhāḥ saptamāśca sarīsṛpāḥ / pūrvādibhyo mukhebhyastu ṛgvedādyāḥ prajajñire

Translation

สัตว์น้ำเป็นหมวดที่หก และสัตว์เลื้อยคลานเป็นหมวดที่เจ็ด; และจากปากทั้งหลายที่เริ่มด้วยทิศตะวันออก พระเวททั้งหลาย—เริ่มด้วยฤคเวท—ได้บังเกิดออกมา।

Word by Word

• औदकाः: aquatic
• औदकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (aquatic/watery)

• पशवः: animals
• पशवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• षष्ठाः: the sixth (class)
• षष्ठाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (sixth)

• सप्तमाः: the seventh (class)
• सप्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (seventh)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सरीसृपाः: reptiles/creeping creatures
• सरीसृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूर्वादिभ्यः: from the eastern etc. (faces)
• पूर्वादिभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (from the eastern etc.)

• मुखेभ्यः: from the mouths/faces
• मुखेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• ऋग्वेदाद्याः: (the Vedas) beginning with the Ṛgveda
• ऋग्वेदाद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋग्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (beginning with the Ṛgveda)

• प्रजज्ञिरे: were born / arose
• प्रजज्ञिरे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sṛṣṭi includes aquatic and reptilian life; śruti (Ṛg etc.) is portrayed as emanating from a cosmic source aligned with directions.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as apauruṣeya (non-human) revelation; cosmic order (ṛta) expressed as Veda arising with creation.

Application: Approach Veda as sacred, foundational knowledge; cultivate orientation to dharma through śruti-study and reverence for all life-forms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic orientation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.4.35 (varṇa origin); Garuda Purana 1.4.37 (āśrama-phala)

Characters & Entities

• Ṛgveda
• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of the Vedas’ origin in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links cosmic creation with revelation: the Vedas (beginning with the Ṛgveda) are presented as emanating from divine “mouths,” establishing them as foundational, authoritative sources for dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by grounding dharma in the revealed Vedas, it implies that right conduct and rites (guided by Vedic authority) shape karma, which in turn determines the soul’s post-death trajectory discussed elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat scriptural guidance as a compass for ethical living—truthfulness, restraint, and duty—since the text frames dharma as rooted in revealed knowledge rather than personal preference.