Shloka 20

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

जानाति लक्ष्मीर्लक्षणं वायुरूपे स्वापेक्षया ह्यतिरिक्तं खगेन्द्र / स्वलक्षणापेक्षया भारती तु शतैर्गुणैरधिका वेधसोपि

Transliteration

jānāti lakṣmīrlakṣaṇaṃ vāyurūpe svāpekṣayā hyatiriktaṃ khagendra / svalakṣaṇāpekṣayā bhāratī tu śatairguṇairadhikā vedhasopi

Translation

يا خَغِندرا (غارودا)، إنَّ لاكشمي تُدرك العلامةَ الفارقةَ في هيئةِ فايُو على أنها أسمى من علامتها هي؛ وإنَّ بهاراتي (سَرَسْوَتي)، إذا قورنت بخصيصتها المُعَرِّفة، فهي أرفعُ بمئةِ ضعفٍ—بل تفوقُ حتى فيدهاس (براهما).

Word by Word

• जानाति: knows
• जानाति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लक्षणम्: the characteristic
• लक्षणम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वायुरूपे: in the form of Vāyu
• वायुरूपे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु+रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (वायोः रूपम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative of state/guise

• स्वापेक्षया: in comparison to herself
• स्वापेक्षया: करण (Instrument/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व+अपेक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (स्वस्य अपेक्षा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; comparative standard

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (reason/emphasis)

• अतिरिक्तम्: exceeding/superior
• अतिरिक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति+रिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; predicative/qualifying लक्षणम्

• खगेन्द्र: O lord of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगेन्द्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग+इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (खगानाम् इन्द्रः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• स्वलक्षणापेक्षया: in comparison to her own attribute(s)
• स्वलक्षणापेक्षया: करण (Instrument/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व+लक्षण+अपेक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य लक्षणस्य अपेक्षा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; comparative standard

• भारती: Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• भारती: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/contrastive particle

• शतैः: by hundreds
• शतैः: करण (Instrument/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; numeral used instrumentally

• गुणैः: by qualities
• गुणैः: करण (Instrument/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• अधिका: greater/superior
• अधिका: विशेषण (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate adjective for भारती

• वेधसः: Vedhas (Brahmā)
• वेधसः: कर्ता (Subject, implied with 'api')
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (Vedic/epithet) Brahmā

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakshana-viveka: discerning distinguishing attributes and recognizing relative excellence among divine principles.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahma upasana uses attributes as pedagogical aids; relative gradations belong to vyavahara while the ultimate is beyond comparison.

Application: Cultivate discrimination: do not judge solely by surface similarity; learn the defining qualities of what you revere or study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22.21-24 (continuation on lakshanas and their limits)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Vayu
• Garuḍa
• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• Brahmā (Vedhas)

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇa (defining attribute) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse uses lakṣaṇa to compare divine functions and capacities—showing that specific defining powers (like Vāyu’s nature or Bhāratī’s faculty) can be described as exceeding others within a theological hierarchy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by outlining gradations of subtle powers among deities, it frames the Purāṇic worldview in which cosmic forces (like Vāyu) govern subtle processes that also affect embodied life and post-death movement described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate respect for distinct roles and competencies—recognize that different capacities (knowledge, vitality, order) have their own excellence, encouraging humility and disciplined learning (Bhāratī/Sarasvatī) in daily life.