Shloka 20

Sṛṣṭi-krama: Brahmā’s Sequential Creation of Devas, Sages, and Sense-Presiding Powers

Devanagari script

निर्ममे नासिकां वामां ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः / अहङ्कारादनु ब्रह्मा सज्ञानं च बृहस्पतिम्

Transliteration

nirmame nāsikāṃ vāmāṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ / ahaṅkārādanu brahmā sajñānaṃ ca bṛhaspatim

Translation

พรหมา ผู้เป็นปิตามหะแห่งโลก ทรงสร้างนาสิกาซ้าย แล้วภายหลังจากอหังการะ พรหมาทรงให้กำเนิดพระพฤหัสบดีผู้ประกอบด้วยญาณอันแท้จริง

Word by Word

• निर्ममे: created/made
• निर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्मा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• नासिकाम्: Nāsikā (a female/person)
• नासिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• वामाम्: Vāmā (named/left)
• वामाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• लोक-पितामहः: grandfather of the worlds
• लोक-पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lokānāṃ pitāmahaḥ)

• अहङ्कारात्: from ego
• अहङ्कारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• अनु: after/following
• अनु: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण (after/following)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (द्वितीय-पादे पुनरुक्त-कर्ता)

• स-ज्ञानम्: with knowledge
• स-ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (saha jñānena / ‘with knowledge’) विशेषणरूपेण

• च: and
• च: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• बृहस्पतिम्: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahaṅkāra serves as a generative node from which both sensory structures and guiding intelligence (Bṛhaspati) can manifest; knowledge is presented as an emergent cosmic function.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra as upādhi producing differentiated functions; the ‘guru’ principle as sattva-oriented refinement within manifestation.

Application: Channel ego-energy toward sattvic learning: convert self-assertion into disciplined study, counsel-seeking, and truthful speech.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana genealogical/cosmogonic lists mentioning Bṛhaspati and Tārā; Garuda Purana discussions of guru, jñāna, and sattva as liberative supports

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Brihaspati
• Ahamkara

FAQs

What is the importance of Ahaṅkāra (egoity) in Garuda Purana creation accounts?

This verse links ahaṅkāra to emanation: from the ‘I’-sense arises a distinct cosmic function, here personified as Bṛhaspati, showing how psychological principles become creative forces in Purāṇic cosmology.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by presenting knowledge (jñāna) as a divine principle embodied by Bṛhaspati, it implies that right understanding counters egoity—an inner shift that supports dharmic living and, by extension, a favorable post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and seek guidance from authentic teachers: reducing ego (ahaṅkāra) and increasing discriminative knowledge (jñāna) aligns one’s actions with dharma.