Garuda Purana

एतासां हननं नैव प्रार्थयामः सदा हरे । अस्ति प्रतिनृषु ब्रह्म प्रकृती द्वे व्यवस्थिते ॥ ३,११.

'We never desire the destruction of these, O Hari. Among beings, there are two established forms of Prakriti.'

एका तु नित्यसंसारा त्वजशब्दाभिधायिका । द्वितीया तु तमोऽपोह्या अजशब्दाभिधायिका ॥ ३,११.

One is eternal transmigration, known by the term 'unborn'; the second, to be rejected as darkness, is also called by the term 'unborn.'

अत एव त्वजे ज्येष्ठे इति लोके प्रकीर्तिते । सुखदुः खप्रदा चैव अपरा दुः खदैव तु ॥ ३,११.

Therefore, the higher is called 'eldest' in the world; she gives both happiness and sorrow, while the lower gives only sorrow.

मोक्षाधिकारिणामेव ज्ञानैश्वर्यादयो गणाः । तेषामाच्छादिका होका तमोङ्गा सा प्रकीर्तिता ॥ ३,११.

Only for those eligible for liberation are the groups of knowledge, lordship, and so on. That which covers them is called the deluding power, composed of darkness.

जीवं प्रति महाविष्णुं पाह्याच्छादयति प्रभो । सा परा प्रकृतिर्ज्ञेया परमाच्छादिका स्मृता ॥ ३,११.

She covers the soul and even the great Vishnu, O Lord. That is to be known as the higher Prakriti, remembered as the supreme covering power.

एवं सा परमा दुष्टा होका तमोङ्गा तु प्रकीर्तिता । जीववर्गेष्वेव खग ब्रह्मादेर्नास्ति सा क्वचित् ॥ ३,११.

Thus, she is called the supreme and wicked deluding power, composed of darkness. But among the classes of living beings, O bird, she is never found in Brahma and others.

पिशाचवत्समुद्दिष्टा जीवस्येत्यधिकारिणः । प्रेरिका तु तयोर्देव्यो स्त्वहमाद्या सुखात्मिका ॥ ३,११.

She is described as possessing the soul like a demon for those who are eligible. Among these two goddesses, I am the first, of the nature of happiness, and the inspirer.

तत्र विष्णो महाभाग सगुणाच्छादको हितः । परमाच्छादिकां दुष्टां व्यामुच्यैव महाप्रभो ॥ ३,११.

Therefore, O greatly fortunate Vishnu, you are the benefactor who removes the covering of qualities. Having cast off the wicked supreme covering, O great Lord—

मोक्षं देहि महादेव त्वद्भक्तानां महाप्रभो । परमाच्छादिका ह्यस्मान्नित्य संसारिणो यतः ॥ ३,११.

'Grant liberation, O great God, to your devotees, O great Lord. For from this supreme covering, beings are bound in eternal transmigration.'

अत एव च नित्यत्वात्तस्मात्तदपसारणम् । कुरु देव महाभाग इति विज्ञायतां मम ॥ ३,११.

'Therefore, because of its eternal nature, its removal is necessary. O greatly fortunate God, do this—thus, let my request be known.'

एवं स्तुतो हरिः कृष्णो सुप्रबुद्धोऽपि सर्बदा । उद्वुद्धवन्महा विष्णुरभूदज्ञपरीक्षया ॥ ३,११.

Thus praised, Hari Krishna, though always fully awakened, became as if asleep, O best of birds, in order to test knowledge.

तस्य नाभेरभूत्पद्मं सौवर्णं भुवनाश्रयम् । तत्प्राकृतं च विज्ञेयं भूदेवी त्वभिमानिनी ॥ ३,११.

From his navel arose a golden lotus, the support of the worlds. That is to be understood as material; the earth goddess identified herself with it.

अनन्तसूर्यवच्चैव प्रकाशकरमीरितम् । चिदानन्दमयो विष्णुस्तस्माद्भिन्नो न संशयः ॥ ३,११.

Just as the endless sun radiates light, so too did it shine forth. Vishnu, full of consciousness and bliss, is distinct from that—of this there is no doubt.

विष्णोः स्वरूपभूतं च ये विजानन्ति ते नराः । ते यान्ति ह्यधरं लोकं तथा तत्संगिसंगिनः ॥ ३,११.

Those people who know the true form of Vishnu, and those who associate with such people, indeed go to the lower worlds.

किरीटादिकवच्चैव ज्ञातव्यं च खगेश्वर । किरीटाद्या अपि हरेर्द्विधा संति न संशयः ॥ ३,११.

Just as with crowns and similar ornaments, O Lord of Birds, know that even crowns and such things of Hari are of two kinds, without doubt.

स्वरूपा ह्यस्वरूपाश्च स्वस्वरूपनि दर्शने । गृहीता इति विज्ञेया न स्वरूपाः खगेश्वर ॥ ३,११.

There are true forms and non-true forms; those that appear as one's own true form are to be understood as assumed, not as the true forms, O Lord of Birds.

भ्माण्डं ह्यसृजत्तत्र सर्वलोकविधायकम् । प्रलये मुक्तिहीनश्च सुप्त इत्युच्यते बुधः ॥ ३,११.

He created the cosmic egg there, which brings about all worlds; at dissolution, one without liberation is called 'asleep' by the wise.

तस्य समिवस्त्रिवं च न ज्ञातव्या खगेश्वर । प्रलयोपि महाभाग ब्रह्मवाय्वोर्न चास्ति हि ॥ ३,११.

Its true nature, O Lord of Birds, is not to be known; even at dissolution, O greatly fortunate one, there is no true existence of Brahma and Vayu.

वृत्तिरूपं परं ज्ञानं पाद्यार्घ्यं नात्र संशयः । इन्द्रियाणामुपरतिः सुप्तिरित्युच्यते बुधैः ॥ ३,११.

The supreme knowledge in the form of cessation is the washing of the feet and offering of water, without doubt; the cessation of the senses is called 'sleep' by the wise.

ब्रह्मवाय्वोश्च पासग्नि वास्तवं स्यात्खगेश्वर । कथं तर्हि तयोर्वर्ते ह्यविलत्यत्वमुच्यते ॥ ३,११.

The real existence of Brahma and Vayu is said to be like a rope and fire, O Lord of Birds; then how is their continued existence called non-existence?

तस्मात्तद्वास्तवं नास्ति ब्रह्मवाय्वोः खगेश्वर । स्वप्नावस्थायाः सदृशी ह्यवस्था सुप्तिसंज्ञिका ॥ ३,११.

Therefore, the real existence of Brahma and Vayu does not exist, O Lord of Birds; the state called 'sleep' is similar to the dream state.

ब्रह्मण्यमुख्यया वृत्त्या ह्यस्तीत्येवं निबोध मे । अतो न वास्तवमिदमङ्गीकार्यं खगेश्वर ॥ ३,११.

Understand from me that, by the primary function of Brahman, it is said to exist; therefore, O Lord of Birds, this is not to be accepted as truly real.

वास्तवं ये विजानन्ति तेषां नित्यं धनं तपः । श्रीगरुड उवाच । सुप्तिस्त्वज्ञानकार्यत्वात्सुप्तिर्नास्तीत्युदीरिता ॥ ३,११.

Those who know the real, for them wealth and austerity are eternal. Śrī Garuḍa said: Sleep is said not to exist, since it is the result of ignorance.

यदा हि कारणं चास्ति तदा कार्यमिति प्रभो । इत्यभिप्रायगर्भेण त्वं समाधास्य ते यदि ॥ ३,११.

When the cause exists, then the effect exists, O Lord; if you resolve this with such an intention, then—

तर्हि तस्य महाभाग कथं ब्रूहि भयादिकम् । भयादिकं ह्यस्तु नाम का वास्माकं क्षतिर्भवेत् ॥ ३,११.

Then, O greatly fortunate one, tell me how fear and the like arise; let there be fear and such, but what harm would come to us?

एवमुक्तस्तु गोविन्दोब्रवीत्तत्रापि कारणम् । भयं त्वज्ञानकार्यं स्यात्कार्याकारणमत्र हि ॥ ३,११.

Thus addressed, Govinda spoke: Even there, the cause is present; fear is the result of ignorance, for here the effect is without a cause.

प्रीयते मत्वा ब्रह्म तस्मात्सुप्तिश्च तत्र हि । अज्ञादिकं यदि ब्रह्म तस्य न स्यात्कथञ्चन ॥ ३,११.

Thinking of Brahman, one is pleased; therefore, sleep is there. If Brahman were ignorance and the like, then it would never be so.

कथं सुखी प्रदृश्येत न कथञ्चित्करिष्यति । कथं वा मुक्तिपर्यन्तं ज्ञानव्यक्तिर्वदस्व मे ॥ ३,११.

How could one be happy or act in any way? Tell me, how does the manifestation of knowledge continue up to liberation?

यद्यज्ञानं तस्य सत्यं न स्यात्तर्हि महाप्रभो । अत्यादरात्कथं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रवणं कुरुते वद ॥ ३,११.

If ignorance truly belonged to it, then, O great Lord, how could Brahman, out of great respect, listen to the teaching?