Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

बलिबन्धनकृद्वेधा (११)वरेण्यो वेदवित्किविः / वेदकर्ता वेदरूपो वेद्यो वेदपरिप्लुतः

Transliteration

balibandhanakṛdvedhā (11)vareṇyo vedavitkiviḥ / vedakartā vedarūpo vedyo vedapariplutaḥ

Translation

Ngài là Đấng đã trói Bali; Đấng Sáng Tạo thấm khắp; Đấng tối đáng tôn; bậc thông Veda, hiền triết thi sĩ được linh hứng; tác giả của Veda; chính hình thể của Veda; Đấng được nhận biết qua Veda; và Đấng tràn đầy bởi Veda.

Word by Word

• बलिबन्धनकृत्: binder of Bali
• बलिबन्धनकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि-बन्धन-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; बलि + बन्धन + कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (‘doer of Bali’s binding’)

• वेधाः: creator; ordainer
• वेधाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेधस्/वेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अकारान्त विशेष-रूप (वेधाः)

• वरेण्यः: most excellent; worthy of choice
• वरेण्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वेदवित्: knower of the Veda
• वेदवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-वित् (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + विद्(प्रातिपदिक ‘knower’))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘knower of the Veda’)

• कविः: sage; poet
• कविः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वेदकर्ता: maker of the Veda
• वेदकर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-कर्ता (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + कर्तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘maker/author of the Veda’)

• वेदरूपः: having the Veda as form
• वेदरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-रूप (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘whose form is the Veda’)

• वेद्यः: knowable
• वेद्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद्य (प्रातिपदिक; √विद् + यत् (कृत्))
• Form: कृत्य (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• वेदपरिप्लुतः: pervaded by the Veda
• वेदपरिप्लुतः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-परिप्लुत (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + परि + प्लु(धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘pervaded/immersed in the Veda’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is both the author and essence of the Vedas; He is known through Veda and pervades Vedic knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa and Brahman as the ground of śruti; unity of kartṛ (author) and jñeya (knowable) in īśvara.

Application: Study/recite Vedic-aligned teachings with devotion; treat scriptural learning as worship; integrate ‘līlā remembrance’ with ‘śāstra reflection’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: mythic-cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 continuation of nāma-list emphasizing Veda-centric epithets

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Vedas
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of calling Vishnu “Veda-kartā” and “Veda-rūpa” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as both the source of revealed wisdom and its living embodiment, grounding dharma and spiritual practice in Vedic authority.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing Vishnu as “vedyaḥ” (knowable through sacred knowledge), it points to liberation through right understanding, devotion, and alignment with Vedic dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study and reflect on dharmic teachings, practice devotion with humility, and let scriptural ethics guide daily decisions—seeing knowledge and conduct as a unified path.