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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

Prajāpati tạo ra các Rākṣasa từ bụng mình; từ hai bên sườn, Ngài sinh ra các loài khác. Và từ đôi chân, Ngài sinh ra những kẻ sinh sau cùng—voi, cùng với trâu, lạc đà và cừu.

Word by Word
सृष्टवान्having created
सृष्टवान्:
Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√सृज् (धातु)
Formक्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
उदरात्from the belly
उदरात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootउदर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
राः(a class of beings/animals) ‘rā’
राः:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootरा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘रास्/राः’ इति पशुविशेष-नाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पाठभेदसम्भवः)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
पार्श्वाभ्याम्by/from the two sides (flanks)
पार्श्वाभ्याम्:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (करण)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
प्रजापतिःPrajapati
प्रजापतिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)
पद्य्भ्याम्from/with the two feet
पद्य्भ्याम्:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (करण); पाठः ‘पद्य्भ्याम्’ = ‘पद्भ्याम्’
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
एवindeed
एव:
Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपात
अन्त्यlast/final
अन्त्य:
Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण
मातङ्गान्elephants
मातङ्गान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
महिषोष्ट्राविकान्buffaloes, camels, and sheep
महिषोष्ट्राविकान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमहिष + उष्ट्र + अविका (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (महिषाश्च उष्ट्राश्च अविकाश्च)
तथाlikewise/also
तथा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (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
P
Prajapati
R
Rakshasas
E
Elephants
B
Buffalo
C
Camel
S
Sheep

FAQs

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.

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.

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

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