Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

सृष्टिं कर्तुं गुणान्वीन्द्र पुरुषेण सह प्रभो / तमः पानं तथा कर्तुं प्रकृत्याख्या तदाभवत्

Transliteration

sṛṣṭiṃ kartuṃ guṇānvīndra puruṣeṇa saha prabho / tamaḥ pānaṃ tathā kartuṃ prakṛtyākhyā tadābhavat

Translation

噢主啊，为了与具足三德（guṇa）的普鲁沙共同成就创造，于是名为“普拉克里蒂”的本性显现；亦为摄受、吸纳昏暗之性（tamas）。

Word by Word

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to create/do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive), ‘to do/make’

• गुणान्वि: O one endowed with qualities
• गुणान्वि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-अन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: गुणान् अन्वेति/अन्वितः इति (one who is accompanied by qualities)

• इन्द्र: O Indra (lord)
• इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरुषेण: with the Puruṣa
• पुरुषेण: Sahakāraka (सह/सहयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/सह-सम्बन्धसूचक (preposition: with)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तमः: darkness; tamas
• तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पानम्: drinking
• पानम्: Karma/Prayojya (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as predicate/goal ‘drinking’

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/so)

• कर्तुम्: to do/make
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive)

• प्रकृत्याख्या: (she) named Prakṛti
• प्रकृत्याख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति-आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय: प्रकृतिः इति आख्या (named ‘Prakṛti’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb: then)

• अभवत्: became; came to be
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, cosmological instruction)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prakriti arises/operates for creation in conjunction with Purusha and the gunas; includes the function of ‘tamas-pāna’—absorbing/holding inertia/darkness as part of cosmic balance.

Vedantic Theme: Guna dynamics in manifestation; tamas as necessary limiting principle for form and differentiation; Ishvara’s governance implied by address ‘Prabho’.

Application: Observe tamas in oneself (inertia, confusion) as a guna-function; cultivate sattva through disciplined routine and devotion, using rajas constructively while reducing tamasic absorption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: cosmology/creation accounts and guna discussions (general internal thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Prakṛti
• Guṇas
• Tamas

FAQs

What is the importance of Prakṛti in Garuda Purana cosmology?

This verse presents Prakṛti as the principle that arises for enabling creation alongside Puruṣa, functioning as the matrix through which the guṇas operate in manifestation.

How does this verse explain the role of tamas (darkness/inertia)?

It indicates that Prakṛti is also meant to 'take in' or absorb tamas—signifying that inertia and obscuration are integral components within the manifesting field of nature.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that clarity (sattva), activity (rajas), and inertia (tamas) all arise within nature; cultivate sattva through disciplined living while consciously reducing tamasic habits like negligence and harmful indulgence.