Shloka 30

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

वास्तवं ये विजानन्ति तेषां नित्यं धनं तपः / सुप्तिस्त्वज्ञानकार्यत्वात्सुप्तिर्नास्तीत्युदीरिता

Transliteration

vāstavaṃ ye vijānanti teṣāṃ nityaṃ dhanaṃ tapaḥ / suptistvajñānakāryatvātsuptirnāstītyudīritā

Translation

สำหรับผู้รู้ความจริง ตบะคือทรัพย์อันเป็นนิตย์ แต่ความหลับเป็นผลที่เกิดจากอวิทยา จึงกล่าวโดยแก่นแท้ว่า ‘ความหลับไม่มี’ สำหรับผู้รู้ตัตตวะ.

Word by Word

• वास्तवम्: reality/the real
• वास्तवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद—विजानन्ति इति

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• विजानन्ति: know/understand
• विजानन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; वि+ज्ञा

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of them’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative) ‘always’

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; धनम् इति समानााधिकरणम्

• सुप्तिः: sleep
• सुप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• अज्ञान-कार्यत्वात्: because it is a product of ignorance
• अज्ञान-कार्यत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान + कार्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतुः—‘because of being an effect of ignorance’

• सुप्तिः: sleep
• सुप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात

• उदीरिता: is declared
• उदीरिता: Kriya (क्रिया/implicit passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: उदीरित)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(it is) declared/said’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For reality-knowers, austerity/discipline is the abiding treasure; sleep is a product of ignorance and is, in the highest sense, negated.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-kārya (effects of ignorance) are sublated by knowledge; jñānī’s standpoint transcends state-bound limitations; inner wealth (tapas) over external possessions.

Application: Reframe ‘wealth’ as steady discipline and clarity; reduce tamas through regulated living and contemplative practice; treat drowsiness and escapism as signals to refine awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.26 (sleep defined); Garuda Purana 3.11.28-29 (dream-like status; not ultimately real)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing Reality (vāstava) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse says true knowledge transforms one’s values: tapas (spiritual discipline) becomes the lasting ‘wealth,’ supporting liberation-oriented living rather than worldly accumulation.

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

Preta-kāṇḍa emphasizes consequences after death; here the text points to the root cause—ignorance. Removing ajñāna through discernment and tapas is presented as the inner remedy that reduces bondage and fear in post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily discipline (tapas) and self-inquiry: reduce inertia, practice mindful living, and treat excessive sleep and heedlessness as signs of ajñāna to be corrected through sattvic routine and study.