Shloka 43

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

विरजानन्तरं विप्रं तथा व्याकृतमंबरम् / अनन्तपारं तदपि लक्ष्मीस्तस्याभिमानिनी

Transliteration

virajānantaraṃ vipraṃ tathā vyākṛtamaṃbaram / anantapāraṃ tadapi lakṣmīstasyābhimāninī

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, lampas sa Virajā ay naroon ang hayag na lawak ng kalangitan; ito man ay walang hanggan at walang malayong pampang. Si Lakṣmī ang namumuno roon bilang kapangyarihang naghahari.

Word by Word

• विरज-अनन्तरम्: after Viraj / subsequent to Viraj
• विरज-अनन्तरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरज (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘विप्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विप्रम्: the sage/brāhmaṇa
• विप्रम्: कर्म (Object; implied ‘(they know/describe) the vipra’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (also/likewise)

• व्याकृतम्: manifested/expanded
• व्याकृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + आ + कृ (धातु) → व्याकृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘अम्बरम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अम्बरम्: the sky/space
• अम्बरम्: कर्म (Object; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अनन्त-पारम्: having endless limit/boundaryless
• अनन्त-पारम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘तद्/अम्बरम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object; ‘that’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अभिमानिनी: presiding/identifying (as ‘I’)/possessing self-identification
• अभिमानिनी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘लक्ष्मीः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic stratification: beyond the Virajā boundary lies an immeasurable expanse governed by a presiding śakti (Lakṣmī).

Vedantic Theme: Adhiṣṭhāna-devatā and śakti-tattva within a graded cosmos; the infinite (ananta) as a pointer to Brahman/Viṣṇu’s immeasurability.

Application: Contemplate the boundless as a meditation support (ākāśa-dhyāna) and cultivate śraddhā in Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa as the sustaining principle behind cosmic order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic boundary/river and supra-cosmic expanse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda/creation sections): discussions of Virajā, cosmic layers, and presiding deities (adhiṣṭhātṛ-devatā); Garuda Purana: Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa supremacy passages in devotional sections

Characters & Entities

• Viraja
• Lakshmi

FAQs

What is the importance of Virajā in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Virajā functions as a threshold: beyond it begins a higher, manifest cosmic expanse, indicating a transition point in the Purāṇic map of realms.

How does this verse explain the structure of the cosmos?

It presents the “vyākṛta ambaram” (manifest sky/expanse) as immeasurable, and identifies Lakṣmī as the presiding power (abhimāninī) governing that region.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages reverence for cosmic order—seeing different realms (and life-spheres) as governed by dharma and presiding principles—supporting disciplined, sattvic living and devotion to Śrī-Viṣṇu and Śrī (Lakṣmī).