Shloka 5

Bhīma-Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī) Māhātmya and Varāha-Pūjā Vidhi

Devanagari script

अज्ञानेन यथा ज्ञानं शौचमाशौचकं यथा / अश्रद्धया यथा श्रद्धा सत्यञ्चैवानृतैर्यथा

Transliteration

ajñānena yathā jñānaṃ śaucamāśaucakaṃ yathā / aśraddhayā yathā śraddhā satyañcaivānṛtairyathā

Translation

Wie Erkenntnis durch Unwissenheit zugrunde geht und Reinheit durch Unreinheit befleckt wird; wie Glaube durch Unglauben zerstört wird; ebenso wird Wahrheit durch Lüge untergraben.

Word by Word

• अज्ञानेन: by ignorance
• अज्ञानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana marker (उपमान-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अशौचकम्: impurity/uncleanliness
• अशौचकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शौचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana marker (उपमान-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक

• अश्रद्धया: by lack of faith
• अश्रद्धया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana marker (उपमान-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (indeed/only)

• अनृतैः: by falsehoods
• अनृतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana marker (उपमान-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Opposites negate: ignorance erodes knowledge; impurity taints purity; distrust destroys faith; falsehood undermines truth—guard the foundations of spiritual life.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as the obscurer of jñāna; satya-śauca-śraddhā as supports for sādhana and clarity of buddhi.

Application: Maintain study and reflection to counter ignorance; uphold cleanliness and ethical purity; cultivate śraddhā through satsanga; practice truthfulness in speech and record-keeping.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on satya, śauca, and śraddhā as prerequisites for rites and for favorable post-mortem outcomes

FAQs

What is the importance of śauca (purity) in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that purity is easily compromised by impurity (āśauca), implying that dharmic life and ritual efficacy depend on guarding cleanliness and avoiding defilement in conduct and observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking ignorance, impurity, faithlessness, and falsehood to the collapse of knowledge and truth, it highlights the inner moral foundations that shape one’s karmic trajectory—key prerequisites for a steady spiritual path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate truthful speech, informed understanding, basic purity in habits, and steady śraddhā; avoid mixing spiritual practice with negligence, cynicism, or dishonesty that erodes its results.