Shloka 35

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

कथं सुखी प्रदृश्येत न कथञ्चित्करिष्यति / कथं वा मुक्तिपर्यन्तं ज्ञानव्यक्तिर्वदस्व मे

Transliteration

kathaṃ sukhī pradṛśyeta na kathañcitkariṣyati / kathaṃ vā muktiparyantaṃ jñānavyaktirvadasva me

Translation

Wie kann jemand als wahrhaft glücklich gelten, wenn er keinerlei Anstrengung unternimmt? Und wie entfaltet sich klares Wissen bis hin zur Befreiung (moksha)? Sage es mir.

Word by Word

• katham: how?
• katham: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• sukhī: happy
• sukhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन

• pradṛśyeta: would appear / be seen
• pradṛśyeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे अर्थः: ‘would appear/be seen’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• kathañcit: in any way / somehow
• kathañcit: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय: ‘somehow/in any way’

• kariṣyati: will do
• kariṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• katham: how?
• katham: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय

• vā: or/indeed
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or/indeed)

• mukti-paryantam: up to liberation
• mukti-paryantam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास: ‘up to liberation’; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (formally नपुंसक एकवचन द्वितीया)

• jñāna-vyaktiḥ: manifestation of knowledge
• jñāna-vyaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vyakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative): ‘manifestation of knowledge’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vadasva: tell (me)
• vadasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (dative), एकवचन; enclitic form

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge does not fully manifest without appropriate effort/sadhana; jnana unfolds progressively toward moksha.

Vedantic Theme: Sadhana-chatushtaya and gradual purification (chitta-shuddhi) enabling aparoksha-jnana; liberation as the culmination of clear knowledge.

Application: Adopt steady practice: ethical living, study, reflection, meditation, and devotion; measure 'happiness' by clarity and freedom from compulsion, not by inertia.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.11.33 (ignorance as cause of fear); Garuda Purana 3.11.34 (Brahman untouched by ignorance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Mukti

FAQs

What is the importance of effort (prayatna) in the Garuda Purana’s path to liberation?

This verse implies that lasting happiness and the rise of liberating knowledge do not occur without purposeful effort; spiritual progress requires deliberate practice and discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward moksha?

It frames moksha as the culmination of a gradual “manifestation of knowledge” (jñāna-vyakti) and asks how that clarity develops—pointing to an inner process rather than mere external identity or status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid passive spirituality: commit to consistent ethical living, study, reflection, and devotion—because happiness and liberation-oriented understanding grow through sustained, intentional action.