Shloka 15

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

कृष्णरामादिवच्चैव त्वेकी भावो विवक्षितः / बिंबानां मूलरूपस्य भेदो नात्र विवक्षितः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇarāmādivaccaiva tvekī bhāvo vivakṣitaḥ / biṃbānāṃ mūlarūpasya bhedo nātra vivakṣitaḥ

Translation

正如克里希纳、罗摩等的事例，此处所意唯在神性之一体。对于诸般显现（形像/映影），并非要说本源之形有任何差别。

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-rāma-ādi-vat: like Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, etc.
• kṛṣṇa-rāma-ādi-vat: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Taddhita adverbial form with -वत् (वत्-प्रत्यय) meaning 'like'; compound base 'kṛṣṇa-rāma-ādi' (itaretara list) + vat; used adverbially

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/restriction

• tu: but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast

• ekī: one, unified
• ekī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used with bhāvaḥ as 'ekī-bhāvaḥ' (intended unity)

• bhāvaḥ: state/idea (of unity)
• bhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vivakṣitaḥ: is intended
• vivakṣitaḥ: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√vac (धातु) + -ta (क्त) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicative with implied 'asti'

• biṃbānām: of the originals
• biṃbānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: biṃba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• mūla-rūpasya: of the root-form
• mūla-rūpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) sense: 'mūlasya rūpam'; Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठī), Singular

• bhedaḥ: difference
• bhedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• atra: here, in this context
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• vivakṣitaḥ: is intended
• vivakṣitaḥ: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√vac (धातु) + -ta (क्त) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicative with implied 'asti'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avatāra/manifestation unity: Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, etc. indicate one Divine; no difference is intended in the मूलरूप across forms.

Vedantic Theme: Eka-tattva in nāma-rūpa plurality; saguna manifestations grounded in one supreme reality (Hari).

Application: Honor diverse forms of Viṣṇu as one Lord; avoid sectarian fragmentation; stabilize devotion by seeing unity behind multiple iconographies and narratives.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.14 (reflection caution); Garuda Purana 3.2.16-18 (eka-aṁśa, jīvatva, avidyā causing multiplicity)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Rama
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of divine oneness (ekī-bhāva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse clarifies that different divine names and forms (like Krishna and Rama) are expressions of one Supreme reality, guiding devotees away from sectarian division and toward unified devotion.

How does this verse explain Krishna and Rama in relation to the Supreme?

It states that the intended teaching is unity: Krishna, Rama, and other manifestations are not separate ultimate beings; the “original form” is not divided by appearing in many forms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Worship any chosen form with sincerity while respecting other forms as the same Divine—cultivating humility, harmony, and steadiness in spiritual practice.