Shloka 2

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

एतावता हरिभक्तस्य तस्याप्यच्छिन्नभक्तस्य चतुर्मुखस्य / विचारकाले च विचिन्तनीयो ह्यज्ञानलेशस्तु खगेश्वरेश्वर

Transliteration

etāvatā haribhaktasya tasyāpyacchinnabhaktasya caturmukhasya / vicārakāle ca vicintanīyo hyajñānaleśastu khageśvareśvara

Translation

Selbst bis zu diesem Maß, o Herr des Königs der Vögel, ist bei sorgfältiger Betrachtung ein feiner Rest von Unwissen zu bedenken — sogar bei dem viergesichtigen Brahmā, dem Verehrer Haris mit ununterbrochener Bhakti.

Word by Word

• etāvatā: by this much; to this extent
• etāvatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: etāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रमाण/परिमाणार्थे—‘एतावता’ = ‘इतनेन/एतस्मिन् परिमाणेन’ (adverbial instrumental)

• hari-bhaktasya: of the devotee of Hari
• hari-bhaktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (hareḥ bhaktaḥ)

• tasya: of him/that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (also/even)

• acchinna-bhaktasya: of the unbroken (steadfast) devotee
• acchinna-bhaktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-cchinna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (acchinnaḥ bhaktaḥ)

• catur-mukhasya: of the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• catur-mukhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (yasya catvāri mukhāni saḥ)

• vicāra-kāle: at the time of inquiry
• vicāra-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vicārasya kālaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• vicintanīyaḥ: should be contemplated
• vicintanīyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (अनीयर्/तव्यत्-समर्थ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विधेय-विशेषण—‘विचिन्तनीयः’ = ‘to be considered’

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात

• ajñāna-leśaḥ: a trace of ignorance
• ajñāna-leśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + leśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ajñānasya leśaḥ)

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• khaga-īśvara-īśvara: O lord of the lord of birds (address)
• khaga-īśvara-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला—‘खगानाम् ईश्वरस्य ईश्वर’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A subtle trace of ignorance can persist even in Brahmā; rigorous reflection must account for residual avidyā.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-leśa and the necessity of continued śravaṇa-manana-nididhyāsana; humility before the absolute.

Application: Do not assume spiritual completion; seek feedback, refine understanding, and continue disciplined contemplation even when devotion is steady.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.1 (Brahmā’s contemplation of nirguṇa Nārāyaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Brahma (Caturmukha)
• Garuda (Khageshvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of ajñāna-leśa (a trace of ignorance) in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that even exalted beings may retain a subtle residue of ignorance, so sincere seekers should rely on careful inquiry (vicāra) alongside devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting the need to examine even subtle ignorance, it points to inner purification as essential for liberation—beyond status or spiritual attainments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain steady devotion, but also practice self-reflection: notice lingering misconceptions, ego, or attachment, and correct them through study, contemplation, and ethical living.