Shloka 5

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

एकीभूतं यदा सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् / क्षीरोदसागरे पूर्वं मयि सुप्ते जगत्पतौ

Transliteration

ekībhūtaṃ yadā sarvaṃ jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam / kṣīrodasāgare pūrvaṃ mayi supte jagatpatau

Translation

เมื่อสรรพจักรวาลทั้งสิ่งนิ่งและสิ่งเคลื่อนไหวรวมเป็นหนึ่งเดียวไร้ความแตกต่าง ในกาลก่อน ณ เกษีรสาคร เรา—ผู้เป็นจอมแห่งโลก—บรรทมอยู่ในโยคนิทรา

Word by Word

• एकीभूतम्: become one; unified
• एकीभूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकी-भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्वं जगत्)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (Time/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जगत्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्थावरजङ्गमम्: (consisting of) immobile and mobile beings
• स्थावरजङ्गमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर-जङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (स्थावरं च जङ्गमं च) विशेषणम् (जगत्)

• क्षीरोदसागरे: in the Ocean of Milk
• क्षीरोदसागरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीरोद-सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरोदस्य सागरः)

• पूर्वम्: formerly; before
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (Time/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषवाचक-सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• सुप्ते: (when) asleep
• सुप्ते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जगत्पतौ)

• जगत्पतौ: in the Lord of the world
• जगत्पतौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः पतिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At pralaya, nāma-rūpa resolves into undifferentiated unity; Īśvara remains as the ground in yogic repose.

Vedantic Theme: Avyakta/undifferentiated state; Brahman/Īśvara as adhishṭhāna of manifestation; cyclic cosmology (sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya).

Application: Contemplate impermanence of forms and cultivate inner stillness; use meditation on dissolution to reduce attachment and fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmology passages describing pralaya and Viṣṇu’s yoganidrā preceding creation

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kshiroda Sagara

FAQs

What is the importance of cosmic dissolution (pralaya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching by recalling pralaya, when all beings merge into one state and Vishnu rests in yoga-nidra—showing that creation and dissolution are governed by divine order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By pointing to the universe’s return to unity during pralaya, it implies that individual states (including embodied life and post-death conditions) are temporary phases within a larger cosmic cycle overseen by Vishnu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplate impermanence and live dharmically: recognizing that all forms dissolve encourages ethical conduct, detachment, and sincere spiritual practice alongside any traditional rites.