Shloka 31

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

स्वदारभोगे केवलां प्रीतिमेवं हरेरेवं सर्वदाहं करोति / स्तम्बास्त्रादीन्धारियिष्ये सदैव विष्णोः प्रीत्यर्थं नैव गात्रार्थमेव

Transliteration

svadārabhoge kevalāṃ prītimevaṃ harerevaṃ sarvadāhaṃ karoti / stambāstrādīndhāriyiṣye sadaiva viṣṇoḥ prītyarthaṃ naiva gātrārthameva

Translation

Wenn man Freude nur im Genuss mit der eigenen Gattin sucht, wird es zu einem beständigen inneren Brennen, selbst wenn man denkt: „Das ist Liebe zu Hari.“ Darum will ich stets Zügelung und Übung auf mich nehmen—den Leib festigen und Askese ertragen—allein um Vishnu zu erfreuen, nicht bloß um des Körpers willen.

Word by Word

• स्वदारभोगे: in the enjoyment of one’s own wife
• स्वदारभोगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + दार + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य दाराणां भोगे)

• केवलाम्: only, mere
• केवलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (प्रीतिम्)

• प्रीतिम्: delight, affection
• प्रीतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (कालवाचक)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• करोति: does, performs
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्तम्बास्त्रादीन्: stambha-weapon etc. (weapons like stambha)
• स्तम्बास्त्रादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्ब + अस्त्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समासः—द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (स्तम्बाश्च अस्त्राणि च, तेषाम् आदयः)

• धारयिष्ये: I shall bear/hold
• धारयिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद; 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (कालवाचक)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• प्रीत्यर्थम्: for the sake of pleasure (to please)
• प्रीत्यर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; accusative-form used adverbially (हेतुवाचक)

• न: not
• न: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle (निषेध)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle (अवधारण)

• गात्रार्थम्: for the body’s sake
• गात्रार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गात्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; accusative-form used adverbially (प्रयोजनवाचक)

• एव: only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purifying motivation: do not camouflage kama as bhakti; undertake tapas/samyama for Vishnu-priti, not for body-centered ends.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as antahkarana-shuddhi; discerning raga (attachment) from prema (devotional love); karma-yoga orientation (offering).

Application: Audit intentions: when ‘devotion’ is used to justify attachment, pause; adopt a small vrata/discipline (diet, speech, celibacy periods, simplicity) explicitly offered to Vishnu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana thematic parallels on tapas, restraint, and devotion as purifier (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-control (indriya-nigraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames unchecked attachment—even when rationalized as “love for Hari”—as a source of inner burning, and recommends discipline undertaken specifically to please Vishnu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s teachings?

By emphasizing intention (Vishnu-prīti) over bodily gratification, it aligns one’s actions with dharma and spiritual merit, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly links to a better post-death course and relief from suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pleasure and bodily routines as secondary; practice restraint and steady habits (austerity, moderation, devotional discipline) with a clear spiritual intention rather than ego, indulgence, or mere bodily maintenance.