Shloka 14

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

पिशाचवत्समुद्दिष्टा जीवस्येत्यधिकारिणः / प्रेरिका तु तयोर्देव्यो स्त्वहमाद्या सुखात्मिका

Transliteration

piśācavatsamuddiṣṭā jīvasyetyadhikāriṇaḥ / prerikā tu tayordevyo stvahamādyā sukhātmikā

Translation

Đối với jīva mang thân, hai lực chủ trì được mô tả như nắm giữ kiểu piśāca (quỷ ăn xác) trong ảnh hưởng bám chặt của chúng. Nhưng chính Ta là quyền năng thần linh thúc đẩy đứng sau cả hai—đấng nguyên sơ, có bản tánh là an lạc.

Word by Word

• पिशाचवत्: like a piśāca (goblin)
• पिशाचवत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पिशाच + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-तद्धित (वत्) = 'like/as' (indeclinable comparative suffix)

• समुद्दिष्टा: declared/indicated
• समुद्दिष्टा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-√दिश् (धातु) → समुद्दिष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'having been indicated/declared'

• जीवस्य: of the living being (jīva)
• जीवस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative marker)

• अधिकारिणः: the entitled/authoritative ones
• अधिकारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; 'those who have authority/are entitled'

• प्रेरिका: the instigator
• प्रेरिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agent-noun 'instigator/impeller'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• देव्यः: goddesses/divine ladies
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आद्या: the first/primordial
• आद्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'first/primordial'

• सुखात्मिका: whose nature is happiness
• सुखात्मिका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आत्मिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुखस्य आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Two grasping presiders act upon the jiva like piśācas (possessive forces), yet the ultimate impetus is the primordial divine power whose essence is bliss.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguishing proximate causes (vasanas/gunas) from the ultimate ground (Shakti/Brahman as ananda-svarupa); moving from fear of bondage to recognition of the deeper reality.

Application: Name and observe compulsive drives as ‘graspers’; redirect the same energy through mantra, devotion, and inquiry toward the bliss-ground rather than reactive patterns.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: adhyatma discussions of vasanas, guna-prerana, and the inner controller (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Pisacha
• Devi (divine impelling power)

FAQs

What is the importance of subtle influencing forces (like piśāca-like agencies) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the jīva can be overwhelmed by unseen, grasping influences, yet these influences operate under a higher divine impetus, reinforcing moral responsibility and the need for spiritual discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It suggests the soul’s experience is shaped by presiding agencies that can feel oppressive, but ultimately the divine—described as primordial and bliss-natured—stands as the deeper mover behind all impulses and outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattvic habits (truthfulness, restraint, prayer/recitation) to reduce harmful impulses, while remembering that aligning with the divine will brings clarity and steadiness amid unseen psychological or spiritual pressures.