Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

अपरोक्षदृशामेवं ब्रह्मणा सह गामिनाम् / विरजातरणं विद्धि नान्येषां विनतासुत

Transliteration

aparokṣadṛśāmevaṃ brahmaṇā saha gāminām / virajātaraṇaṃ viddhi nānyeṣāṃ vinatāsuta

Translation

Hỡi con của Vinatā (Garuda), hãy biết rằng việc vượt sông Virajā chỉ dành cho những bậc thấy biết trực chứng và những ai cùng đi với Brahman; còn kẻ khác thì không như vậy.

Word by Word

• अपरोक्ष-दृशाम्: of those who have direct realization
• अपरोक्ष-दृशाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपरोक्ष-दृश् (प्रातिपदिक; अपरोक्ष + दृश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘अपरोक्षं पश्यन्ति’ इति—those who have direct vision

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• ब्रह्मणा: with Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: सहकारक/करण (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental

• सह: together with
• सह: सह (Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (with)

• गामिनाम्: of those who go (to Brahmā)
• गामिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘गच्छन्ति’—goers

• विरजा-तरणम्: crossing of the Virajā (river)
• विरजा-तरणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरजा-तरण (प्रातिपदिक; विरजा + तरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object of imperative

• विद्धि: know (understand)
• विद्धि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person/मध्यम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘others’

• विनता-सुत: O son of Vinatā
• विनता-सुत: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनता-सुत (प्रातिपदिक; विनता + सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; address to Garuḍa

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Virajā-crossing is reserved for those with direct realization (aparokṣa-darśana) who ‘go with Brahman’; others cannot access that passage.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra (fitness) and aparokṣa-jñāna as the decisive criterion for liberation; distinction between intellectual belief and direct realization.

Application: Assess and cultivate qualifications (viveka, vairāgya, śamādi-ṣaṭka, mumukṣutva); prioritize direct realization through disciplined inquiry and meditation rather than mere ritual expectation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: transcendent crossing-point

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on adhikāra and jñāna as prerequisites for higher gati; Garuda Purana: descriptions of different post-mortem paths based on karma and knowledge

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Viraja
• Garuda (Vinata-suta)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Virajā crossing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that crossing the Virajā symbolizes transcending ordinary post-death routes; it is reserved for those with direct realization who move with Brahman, indicating liberation rather than continued transmigration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It distinguishes two trajectories: realized beings (aparokṣadṛśaḥ) attain a Brahman-oriented passage (Virajā-taraṇa), while others do not gain that passage and remain within conventional post-death domains.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize inner realization—truthfulness, disciplined practice, and contemplative inquiry—so spiritual progress is not limited to ritual outcomes but aims at direct knowledge leading toward liberation.