Shloka 31

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

सृष्टवानुदराद्राश्च पार्श्वाभ्यां च प्रजापतिः / पद्य्भां चैवान्त्यमातङ्गान्महिषोष्ट्राविकांस्तथा

Transliteration

sṛṣṭavānudarādrāśca pārśvābhyāṃ ca prajāpatiḥ / padybhāṃ caivāntyamātaṅgānmahiṣoṣṭrāvikāṃstathā

Translation

پرَجاپتی نے اپنے پیٹ سے راکشسوں کی سृष्टی کی، اور اپنے پہلوؤں سے دوسری مخلوقات کو پیدا کیا۔ اور اپنے پاؤں سے آخری پیدا ہونے والے—ہاتھی، نیز بھینس، اونٹ اور بھیڑ—پیدا کیے۔

Word by Word

• सृष्टवान्: having created
• सृष्टवान्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उदरात्: from the belly
• उदरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राः: (a class of beings/animals) ‘rā’
• राः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘रास्/राः’ इति पशुविशेष-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पाठभेदसम्भवः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• पार्श्वाभ्याम्: by/from the two sides (flanks)
• पार्श्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (करण)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• प्रजापतिः: Prajapati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)

• पद्य्भ्याम्: from/with the two feet
• पद्य्भ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (करण); पाठः ‘पद्य्भ्याम्’ = ‘पद्भ्याम्’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• अन्त्य: last/final
• अन्त्य: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मातङ्गान्: elephants
• मातङ्गान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महिषोष्ट्राविकान्: buffaloes, camels, and sheep
• महिषोष्ट्राविकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष + उष्ट्र + अविका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (महिषाश्च उष्ट्राश्च अविकाश्च)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Macrocosm–microcosm mapping: the creator’s body symbolizes differentiated functions and levels of manifestation (higher/lower births).

Vedantic Theme: Virāṭ conception: the world as divine body; apparent hierarchy belongs to nāma-rūpa, while essence remains one.

Application: Cultivate reverence for living beings and ecological responsibility; recognize symbolic ‘lower’ origins do not justify cruelty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmogonic/primordial space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana creation accounts and later ethical sections on non-injury toward animals (thematic linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Rakshasas
• Elephants
• Buffalo
• Camel
• Sheep

FAQs

What is the importance of Prajapati’s body-based creation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses symbolic “body-origins” (belly, sides, feet) to map a creation-sequence and hierarchy of beings, illustrating how diverse life-forms arise from the creative power of Prajāpati.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it provides cosmological background—how different categories of beings originate—within the broader Vishnu–Garuda teaching framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages a contemplative view of life’s diversity as part of a sacred cosmic order, supporting humility and dharmic conduct toward all beings.