Shloka 2

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

पुरुषाख्यविरिञ्चानुजातः शेषो महाबलः / हरे रमायाश्च यस्य स्वस्मिन्निद्रां प्रकुर्वतः

Transliteration

puruṣākhyaviriñcānujātaḥ śeṣo mahābalaḥ / hare ramāyāśca yasya svasminnidrāṃ prakurvataḥ

Translation

พระเศษะผู้ทรงพละใหญ่—ผู้บังเกิดภายหลังวิรินจะ (พรหมา) ผู้มีนามว่า ปุรุษะ—เป็นผู้รับใช้พระหริ ผู้ซึ่งพระรมา (พระลักษมี) ประทับพักบนพระอุระ; และบนพระเศษะนั้นเอง พระหริเมื่อบรรทมจึงเสด็จเข้าสู่นิทรา

Word by Word

• पुरुष-आख्य-विरिञ्च-अनुजातः: born after Virin̄ci (Brahmā) called ‘Puruṣa’
• पुरुष-आख्य-विरिञ्च-अनुजातः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुजात (कृदन्त; जन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (पुरुषाख्यः विरिञ्चः तस्य अनुजातः); कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) ‘born after/younger’

• शेषः: Śeṣa (Ananta)
• शेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महद् बलं यस्य)

• हरे: O Hari
• हरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रमायाः: of Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• रमायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• स्वस्मिन्: in himself
• स्वस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; आत्मवाचक (in himself)

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वतः: of (him) who is causing/doing
• प्रकुर्वतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ (present active participle), परस्मैपद-कर्तरि; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with ‘यस्य’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue context with Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing cosmic order)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śeṣa’s strength and existence are oriented to sevā of Hari; even divine ‘sleep’ is a cosmic function supported by devoted attendants.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the ground of cosmic order; devotees/śaktis function as instruments (nimitta) in līlā without limiting the Lord’s sovereignty.

Application: Cultivate service-attitude (sevā-bhāva): use strength and capacity in support of dharma and devotion rather than egoic display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean / divine couch

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vaiṣṇava cosmology passages describing Nārāyaṇa’s śayana and attendants

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Rama (Lakshmi)
• Virinca (Brahma)
• Purusha

FAQs

What is the importance of Ananta Shesha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Śeṣa as the mighty cosmic support on whom Lord Viṣṇu reclines, indicating Śeṣa’s role in sustaining divine order and stability.

How does this verse explain the nature of Vishnu’s sleep (yoga-nidra)?

It portrays Viṣṇu’s ‘sleep’ as divine repose undertaken while lying upon Śeṣa—an aspect of cosmic maintenance rather than ordinary ignorance-based sleep.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness and support for others (like Śeṣa), and remember that true rest is disciplined and purposeful, not mere inertia.