3 - Statement of Contents

Suta said:

1. Thus Rudra and Brahma heard this from Vishnu, sage Vyasa from Brahma and I heard this from Vyasa. I shall now narrate this to you, O Shaunaka, in the sacred forest Naimisha.

2. In this august audience consisting of sages, will be narrated the details of creation, the mode of worship of the gods, places of pilgrimage, the treasures of the world and the Manvantaras.

3-4. The rights and duties of the various classes of society and stages of life, the mode of gifts, the ways of administration by the King, conduct of life, sacred rites, the families, the medical science along with Pathology, the various ancillary subjects, pralaya¹ (dissolution), the perfect know ledge of virtue, wealth and love, how Lord Vishnu had elaborated and annihilated the universe—all this is being told here.

1. The destruction of the whole world at the end of a Kalpa. (SKD p.311.)

5-7. In the Garuda Purana, Garuda is bhagavan, who acquiring inordinate ability by the favour of Lord Vasudeva, becoming the vehicle of Hari, the cause of creation, conquering the gods, brought the divine nectar, whose hunger was appeased, whose brahmanda² is in the belly of Hari, seeing whom or even remembering whom, the serpents etc perish.

2. Brahmanda, lit. the ese of Brahman is generally used to denote Cosmos.

8. Garuda is Lord Hari himself. Hence Kashyapa could resuscitate the burnt tree by the Garuda (-vidya) mentioned by Garuda to Kashyapa.

9. That holy glorious Garuda Purana, when read, bestows everything. Bowing to Vyasa, I shall narrate it to you. O Shaunaka! listen now how it is so.

Summary of chapter 3 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa is as follows:

Bhagavān Vishṇu illuminates to Garuḍa the grand process of cosmic creation, detailing how the unmanifest Prakṛti awakens under the divine glance of the Supreme Purusha. As it happens, Mahat-tattva, Ahamkāra, and the subtle Panchabhūtas emerge in sequential order, leading to the formation of the cosmic egg wherein Brahma manifests from the lotus originating from the navel of Prabhu Nārāyaṇa to construct the multidimensional realms.