Shloka 20

An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord

Devanagari script

यतः प्रकृतिरूपाणां परिच्छेदो न विद्यते / अतः प्रकृतिजा ज्ञेया न मूलास्ते खगेश्वर

Transliteration

yataḥ prakṛtirūpāṇāṃ paricchedo na vidyate / ataḥ prakṛtijā jñeyā na mūlāste khageśvara

Translation

由于属于自性（Prakṛti）的诸形相并无固定界限与终极边际，因此应知它们皆由自性而生；它们本身并非究竟的根本因，噢鸟中之王。

Word by Word

• यतः: since; because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक-अव्यय (causal ‘since/because’)

• प्रकृतिरूपाणाम्: of the forms of prakṛti
• प्रकृतिरूपाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रकृतेः रूपाणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परिच्छेदः: division; delimitation
• परिच्छेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + छिद् (धातु) → परिच्छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• विद्यते: exists; is found
• विद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘exists/is found’

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu/Conclusion (हेतु/निगमन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore)

• प्रकृतिजाः: born of prakṛti
• प्रकृतिजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृति + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रकृतेः जाताः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ज्ञेयाः: to be understood as
• ज्ञेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘to be known/understood’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• मूलाः: root/original
• मूलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय (खगानाम् ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prakṛti’s forms have no final ‘pariccheda’ (fixed boundary/limit); therefore, manifested forms are to be known as prakṛti-born and not the ultimate root.

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti style discernment applied to prakṛti’s manifestations; the ultimate is not any bounded form—supports detachment from names/forms.

Application: When analyzing self/world, avoid treating any particular state, concept, or phenomenon as final; trace dependencies, remain open, and rest in discriminative awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.16-3.4.19 (guṇa-sāmya; aggregates; not mūla-prakṛti)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Prakriti

FAQs

What is the importance of Prakriti in Garuda Purana’s philosophy?

This verse frames all changing forms as products of Prakṛti, clarifying that observable material forms are effects, not the final first cause.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing transient Prakṛti-made forms from the ultimate root, it supports the idea that the soul should not identify with changing material conditions but seek the underlying truth beyond them.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat bodily and worldly changes as temporary products of nature, and focus daily conduct on dharma and inner discernment rather than attachment to outward form.