Shloka 78

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

त्रयोविंशतिरूपाणां वायोश्चैव खगेश्वर / रूपैरृजुस्वरूपैश्च ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

trayoviṃśatirūpāṇāṃ vāyoścaiva khageśvara / rūpairṛjusvarūpaiśca brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

Hỡi chúa tể loài chim, thần Gió (Vāyu) có hai mươi ba hình thái; và Phạm Thiên (Brahmā), bậc Parameṣṭhin—Đấng an bài tối thượng—cũng được nói đến qua các hình tướng, vừa theo bản thể trực tiếp, vừa theo những phương diện hiển lộ.

Word by Word

• त्रयोविंशतिरूपाणाम्: of the twenty-three forms
• त्रयोविंशतिरूपाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोविंशति-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयोविंशतिः रूपाणि)

• वायोः: of Vāyu
• वायोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• रूपैः: by/with forms
• रूपैः: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• ऋजुस्वरूपैः: with straightforward/true forms
• ऋजुस्वरूपैः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु-स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (ऋजु च तत् स्वरूपं च)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः इति विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deities/principles operate through multiple forms—both direct (ṛju-svarūpa) and manifested aspects—inviting layered understanding of cosmic functions.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa manifestations as upādhika expressions of underlying principle; many forms without compromising essential unity (ekatva-in-many).

Application: Read cosmological lists as contemplative aids: see one life-force (prāṇa/vāyu) operating in many functions; cultivate integrative thinking rather than literalism alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.79 (certainty about nityānanda)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Garuda
• Brahma
• Parameshthin

FAQs

What is the importance of Vayu’s “twenty-three forms” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vāyu as a multi-functional cosmic principle—operating in numerous modes—so the reader understands life-force and cosmic motion as diversified manifestations rather than a single, simplistic entity.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue style of the Garuda Purana?

Vishnu addresses Garuda directly (“khageśvara”), continuing the instructional dialogue where cosmic categories and divine functions are explained in enumerated, technical terms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative reminder that vital energy and divine governance appear in many observable functions—encouraging disciplined breath, steadiness of mind, and reverence for the ordered workings of creation.