Shloka 73

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

गरुड उवाच / आनन्दनिर्णयं ब्रूहि कृष्ण पूर्णदयानिघे / निर्णेतुं ज्ञानिनां यद्वज्ज्ञापनार्थं तथा मम

Transliteration

garuḍa uvāca / ānandanirṇayaṃ brūhi kṛṣṇa pūrṇadayānighe / nirṇetuṃ jñānināṃ yadvajjñāpanārthaṃ tathā mama

Translation

গরুড় বললেন— হে কৃষ্ণ, পূর্ণ দয়ার নিধি! আনন্দের নির্ণায়ক তত্ত্ব বলুন, যাতে জ্ঞানীরা তা নিশ্চিতভাবে নির্ধারণ করতে পারেন এবং আমাকেও যথার্থভাবে জ্ঞাপন হয়।

Word by Word

• garuḍaḥ: Garuḍa
• garuḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• ānanda-nirṇayam: the determination of bliss
• ānanda-nirṇayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānanda-nirṇaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘ānandasya nirṇayaḥ’

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• kṛṣṇa: O Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (sg.)

• pūrṇa-dayā-nidhe: O treasure of full compassion
• pūrṇa-dayā-nidhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa-dayā-nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘dayāyāḥ nidhiḥ’ with pūrṇa as विशेषण (full of compassion/treasury of compassion)

• nirṇetum: to determine
• nirṇetum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-ṇī (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), ‘to decide/determine’

• jñāninām: of the wise
• jñāninām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (gen./6th), बहुवचन (pl.)

• yadvat: just as
• yadvat: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनावाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• jñāpana-artham: for the purpose of informing
• jñāpana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāpana-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘jñāpanasya arthaḥ’ (purpose of informing)

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/so)

• mama: of me / for me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (gen./6th), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम

Speaker

Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ānanda-nirṇaya: discerning true bliss (ātma-sukha) from transient pleasure; clarity for jñānins and sincere aspirants.

Vedantic Theme: Ānanda as svarūpa-lakṣaṇa of Brahman/Ātman; viveka (discrimination) as the means to ‘decide’ the real.

Application: Practice daily viveka: note what is dependent/temporary vs. independent/steady; use śāstra and guru-upadeśa to stabilize understanding of inner contentment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.18 (question-answer structure: Garuḍa’s inquiries leading to doctrinal exposition)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Kṛṣṇa (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘ānanda-nirṇaya’ in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Garuḍa requests a clear, decisive teaching on true bliss, indicating that authentic spiritual happiness must be properly ascertained (nirṇaya) through instruction from Viṣṇu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing after-death stages directly, it frames the soul’s ultimate aim as understanding true bliss (ānanda) through right knowledge, guided by divine teaching—an orientation toward liberation rather than mere worldly outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek clarity on what lasting happiness is, learn from reliable spiritual sources/teachers, and cultivate compassion and discernment—so one’s life choices align with liberation-oriented values.