Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

परावरत्वं तेषां तु व्यक्तिमात्रविशेषतः / न देशकालसामर्थ्यात्पारावर्यं कथञ्चन

Transliteration

parāvaratvaṃ teṣāṃ tu vyaktimātraviśeṣataḥ / na deśakālasāmarthyātpārāvaryaṃ kathañcana

Translation

สำหรับท่านเหล่านั้น ความต่างว่า ‘สูง–ต่ำ’ เกิดเพียงจากความต่างแห่งการปรากฏเฉพาะตนเท่านั้น มิได้เป็นสูงหรือต่ำด้วยอำนาจแห่งสถานที่หรือกาลเวลาเลย

Word by Word

• parāvaratvam: higher-or-lower status
• parāvaratvam: Karta (कर्ता/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parāvara + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular; abstract noun ‘superiority/inferiority’

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (निपात)

• vyakti-mātra-viśeṣataḥ: only due to difference of manifestation
• vyakti-mātra-viśeṣataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vyakti (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; final form with tasil (तसिल्) = Ablatival adverb ‘from/owing to’; meaning ‘only due to difference in manifestation’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• deśa-kāla-sāmarthyāt: due to (limitations of) place and time
• deśa-kāla-sāmarthyāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sāmarthya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समाहार/सम्बन्ध) compound; Neuter, Ablative Singular; ‘from/owing to capability of place and time’

• pārāvaryam: higher-or-lower distinction
• pārāvaryam: Karma (कर्म/thing denied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārāvara + ya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; abstract noun ‘superiority/inferiority’

• kathañcana: in any way
• kathañcana: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcana (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय) meaning ‘in any way/at all’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parāpara (higher/lower) is only a relative distinction of manifestation, not an absolute produced by place or time.

Vedantic Theme: Paramārtha vs vyavahāra; nirvikāra-tattva beyond deśa-kāla; bhedābheda as appearance-level only.

Application: Reduce status-anxiety and contextual bias; judge by inner realization/qualities rather than circumstance; cultivate sama-darśana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.5 (pūrṇatā doctrine continuation); Garuda Purana 3.3.6 (īśvara-dṛṣṭi and cosmic order)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘parāvara’ (higher and lower) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames ‘higher and lower’ as a matter of individual constitution/manifestation, not something produced merely by external conditions like location or historical time.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s condition after death?

In Garuda Purana contexts, post-death states are understood to correspond to the individual’s karmic and subtle constitution; this verse supports that hierarchy is rooted in the individual’s manifested condition rather than geography or timing alone.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Focus on cultivating inner qualities and ethical action (karma and dharma), since genuine elevation is tied to one’s formed character and consciousness—not merely to external circumstances.