Shloka 31

Measurements of the Sun’s Chariot, the Wheel of Time, and the Retinues of the Solar Months; Chariots of Soma and the Grahas

Devanagari script

पलालधूमवर्णाभा लाक्षारसनिभारुणाः / द्वीपनद्यद्रयुदन्वन्तो भुवनानिहरेस्तनुः

Transliteration

palāladhūmavarṇābhā lākṣārasanibhāruṇāḥ / dvīpanadyadrayudanvanto bhuvanāniharestanuḥ

Translation

หมู่เกาะ แม่น้ำ ภูเขา มหาสมุทร และโลกทั้งปวง มีสีดุจควันจากฟางที่ไหม้ และแดงเรื่อดุจน้ำยางรัก—ทั้งหมดนั้นคือพระวรกายแห่งพระหริ (พระวิษณุ) เอง

Word by Word

• पलाल: chaff, straw
• पलाल: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• धूम: smoke
• धूम: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• वर्ण: color
• वर्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• आभाः: having the appearance of the color of chaff-smoke
• आभाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलाल-धूम-वर्ण-आभा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुवचन-विशेषणम्

• लाक्षा: lac (red dye)
• लाक्षा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• रस: juice, essence
• रस: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• निभ: similar to, like
• निभ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय विशेषणप्रातिपदिक; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• अरुणाः: reddish, like lac-juice
• अरुणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाक्षा-रस-निभ-अरुण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुवचन-विशेषणम्

• द्वीप: island, continent
• द्वीप: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• नदी: river
• नदी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• अद्रि: mountain
• अद्रि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• उदन्वन्तः: islands, rivers, mountains, and oceans
• उदन्वन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप-नदी-अद्रि-उदन्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वार्थे बहुवचन (समूहः)

• भुवनानि: worlds, realms
• भुवनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

• तनुः: body, form
• तनुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, context-dependent within Adhyaya 58)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu as the immanent substratum and body of the worlds (sarva-bhūta-śarīratva).

Vedantic Theme: Viśiṣṭādvaita-style śarīra-śarīrī-bhāva (world as God’s body) and Brahman as inner controller (antaryāmin)

Application: Cultivate devotional perception: treat nature and all realms with reverence, seeing them as Hari’s manifestation; reduce harm and increase worshipful mindfulness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (cosmography/viśvarūpa context); Garuda Purana 1.59 (transition to jyotiḥśāstra after cosmography)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of seeing the worlds as Hari’s body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames all cosmic structures—lands, waters, mountains, and worlds—as manifestations of Viṣṇu, encouraging reverence toward creation and a devotional, non-separative worldview.

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

By declaring the cosmos as Hari’s form, it provides a theological backdrop for the soul’s passage through different realms (bhuvanas): the journey occurs within a divinely pervaded order rather than a random or purely punitive universe.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Treat the world—nature, places, and living beings—with sanctity and restraint, cultivating devotion and ethical conduct (dharma) as service to Viṣṇu present in all forms.