Shloka 9

Sṛṣṭi–Pratisṛṣṭi: Viṣṇu as Kāla and the Ninefold Creation Schema

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा चतुर्मुखो भूत्वा रजोमात्राधिकः सदा / शरीरग्रहणं कृत्वासृजदेतच्चराचरम्

Transliteration

brahmā caturmukho bhūtvā rajomātrādhikaḥ sadā / śarīragrahaṇaṃ kṛtvāsṛjadetaccarācaram

Translation

化为四面梵天，恒为“罗阇斯”（激动之性）所偏胜；他取身而造此一切世间，动者与不动者皆然。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्मुखः: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having become)

• रजोमात्राधिकः: predominantly rajas
• रजोमात्राधिकः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस् + मात्रा + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रजः-मात्रया अधिकः = predominating in rajas)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• शरीरग्रहणम्: taking a body
• शरीरग्रहणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शरीरस्य ग्रहणम्)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (चराचरम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• चराचरम्: the moving and the unmoving (all beings)
• चराचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर + अचर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (चरं च अचरं च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation proceeds through a rājasa predominance in the creator-function; form is assumed as an instrument for manifesting the moving and unmoving.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-based cosmology: rajas as the dynamism of sṛṣṭi within prakṛti under īśvara’s governance.

Application: Recognize rajas as necessary for constructive action; channel activity toward dharmic creation (building, learning, service) rather than restlessness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-interior

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.4.8 (śarīra-grahaṇa for sṛṣṭi); Garuda Purana 1.4.10-12 (Vişṇu as creator/preserver; Rudra at dissolution)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of rajas in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse highlights rajas as the activating force that enables Brahmā to undertake creation (sṛṣṭi), distinguishing the dynamic role needed for manifesting the world.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it sets the cosmological foundation: embodied existence (śarīra-grahaṇa) and the created realm of beings (cara–acara) are the field in which jīvas experience karma and pursue liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize activity and ambition as expressions of rajas; regulate them through dharma and sattvic discipline so action supports clarity rather than restlessness.