Shloka 22

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / स्त्रीबिंबभूतस्त्रीरूपे लक्ष्मीर्न स्यात्खगेश्वर / नित्यावियोगिनी देवी कथं स्यात्परमात्मनः

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / strībiṃbabhūtastrīrūpe lakṣmīrna syātkhageśvara / nityāviyoginī devī kathaṃ syātparamātmanaḥ

Translation

ศรีกฤษณะตรัสว่า: โอ้เจ้าแห่งนก! หากพระลักษมีเป็นเพียงภาพลักษณ์ฝ่ายสตรี เป็นแค่รูปหญิงเท่านั้น ก็ย่อมไม่ใช่พระลักษมีโดยแท้ เทวีผู้ไม่เคยพรากจากกันเป็นนิตย์ จะพรากจากปรมาตมันได้อย่างไร

Word by Word

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Krishna
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् कृष्णः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• स्त्री-बिंब-भूतः: having become a female image/form
• स्त्री-बिंब-भूतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + बिंब (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त, भू धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); भूत = क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) from √भू; समासः: स्त्रीबिंबं भूतो यः

• स्त्री-रूपे: in a female form
• स्त्री-रूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः रूपम्)

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakshmi
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• स्यात्: would be / could be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• खग-ईश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खग-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• नित्य-अवियोगिनी: ever non-separated, inseparable
• नित्य-अवियोगिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अवियोगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (नित्या च अवियोगिनी च)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• स्यात्: could be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• परम-आत्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परम-आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (परमः आत्मा)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as narrator/speaker addressing Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī is nityā-avyoginī—eternally inseparable from Paramātman; she cannot be reduced to a contingent feminine embodiment.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti-Śaktimān non-separation; saguna-brahman theology; refutation of mere nāma-rūpa reductionism regarding divine consort principle.

Application: In devotion, honor Lakṣmī as the ever-present auspicious power of the Lord; in iconography and prayer, treat Śrī as intrinsic to Hari’s lordship (aiśvarya) and grace (anugraha).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.23 (innumerable feminine manifestations devoted in service); Garuda Purana 3.3.19 (contemplation of Śrī when feminine likeness is spoken of)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Garuḍa (Khageśvara)
• Lakṣmī
• Paramātman

FAQs

What does this verse teach about Lakṣmī in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It teaches that Lakṣmī is not merely a physical or gendered form; she is the eternally inseparable divine power (śakti) of the Supreme Self, never truly apart from Him.

How does this verse relate to the dialogue between the Lord and Garuḍa?

Śrī Kṛṣṇa addresses Garuḍa directly, clarifying a theological point: the Goddess’ relationship to the Supreme is intrinsic and permanent, not contingent on external appearance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages devotees to look beyond outward forms and remember the inseparable unity of the Divine—worshipping with understanding that the Lord and His śakti are not divided.