Shloka 4

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

अदौ ससर्ज भगवान् ब्रह्माण्डं कन कात्मकम् / पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तीर्णं योजनानां समन्ततः

Transliteration

adau sasarja bhagavān brahmāṇḍaṃ kana kātmakam / pañcāśatkoṭivistīrṇaṃ yojanānāṃ samantataḥ

Translation

ในปฐมกาล พระภควานทรงสร้างพรหมาณฑะ—ไข่จักรวาลที่ประกอบด้วยอนุภาคละเอียด—ซึ่งแผ่ขยายออกไปทุกทิศถึงห้าสิบโกฏิโยชนะ.

Word by Word

• अदौ: at first
• अदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अदौ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: at first/beginning)

• ससर्ज: created
• ससर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ब्रह्माण्डम्: the cosmic egg; universe
• ब्रह्माण्डम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः अण्डम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कन: (unclear reading)
• कन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/uncertain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कन (अव्यय/पाठान्तर)
• Form: पाठान्तर/अस्पष्ट-पद; सम्भाव्यं ‘घन’/‘कण’ इत्यादि; अव्ययवत् ग्रहणम्

• कात्मकम्: of what nature/consisting of what
• कात्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कस्य आत्मकं = of what nature); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘ब्रह्माण्डम्’)

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; here as first member of compound

• कोटि: crore (ten million)
• कोटि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• विस्तीर्णम्: extended; spread
• विस्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies implied measure/extent of brahmāṇḍa)

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive of measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: on all sides)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos is a structured manifestation created by Bhagavān; even vast creation is described with measure, implying order (ṛta) rather than chaos.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-īśvara as cosmic architect; māyā as the measurable field of manifestation while the Lord remains transcendent.

Application: Use cosmography as a contemplative aid: reflect on the immensity of creation to cultivate humility and detachment from petty identifications.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic structure

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmography passages on brahmāṇḍa, lokas, and coverings (āvaraṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Brahmanda

FAQs

What is the importance of the brahmāṇḍa (cosmic egg) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames creation as a structured cosmos originating from the Lord’s will, with the universe described as a defined ‘brahmāṇḍa’—a key cosmological container for all worlds and beings.

Does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by establishing the cosmic scale and order of creation, it provides the cosmological backdrop within which later teachings on lokas, Yama’s realm, and post-death pathways are situated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages humility and dharmic living by reminding one of the vast, ordered cosmos governed by divine law, making ethical conduct and reverence for sacred teachings central to one’s life.