Shloka 74

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

ते सर्वे ह्यसुरा ज्ञेया नान्यथा तु कथञ्चन / विहाय शून्यमश्वत्थं नमनं ये प्रकुर्वते

Transliteration

te sarve hyasurā jñeyā nānyathā tu kathañcana / vihāya śūnyamaśvatthaṃ namanaṃ ye prakurvate

Translation

এনেকুৱা সকলকে অসুৰস্বভাৱী বুলিয়েই জানিব লাগে; কোনোপধ্যেই অন্যথা নহয়। যিসকলে সত্য শূন্য (নিরাকার) ত্যাগ কৰি ‘শূন্য-অশ্বত্থ’ত নমস্কাৰ কৰে।

Word by Word

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

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• असुराः: asuras/demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेया (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भाव्य/विधेय (gerundive)

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

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (otherwise)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• कथञ्चन: in any way (at all)
• कथञ्चन: Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चन (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध/असम्भववाचक-अव्यय (by any means/at all)

• विहाय: having abandoned
• विहाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) ‘having abandoned’

• शून्यम्: empty/void
• शून्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अश्वत्थम्)

• अश्वत्थम्: the aśvattha tree
• अश्वत्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नमनम्: bowing
• नमनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमन (प्रातिपदिक; √नम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकुर्वते: perform
• प्रकुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship directed to ‘śūnya’ (void/emptiness) rather than the rightful divine principle is branded as asuric.

Vedantic Theme: Critique of nihilistic/śūnyavāda-like ultimate; affirmation of a positive ultimate (Brahman/Īśvara) as proper object of devotion.

Application: Anchor devotion in a theistic or scripturally affirmed ultimate; avoid reducing spirituality to mere negation without ethical and devotional grounding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: sacred tree/shrine substitute

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vishnu as supreme refuge (śaraṇāgati) passages; Garuda Purana: condemnations of pāṣaṇḍa/heterodox practices (general thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Ashvattha (sacred fig)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding wrong worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies misdirected reverence—worship that abandons the proper divine principle and turns toward “void” objects—as asuric, implying it harms dharmic merit and spiritual direction.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, the text links correct dharma and ritual orientation with favorable outcomes after death; asuric, misguided practices are treated as negative karma that can obstruct auspicious post-death progression.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a clear, dharmic framework for worship and ethics—avoid practices that are merely symbolic or empty of right intention and right understanding, and align devotion with scriptural guidance and moral conduct.