Shloka 32

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

नित्यानन्दादन्यकामो न मेस्ति अतः सदा बहिरर्थैश्च शून्यः / ममापि भार्या बहिरर्थशून्या अमूढभावा मूढवतीव दृश्यते

Transliteration

nityānandādanyakāmo na mesti ataḥ sadā bahirarthaiśca śūnyaḥ / mamāpi bhāryā bahirarthaśūnyā amūḍhabhāvā mūḍhavatīva dṛśyate

Translation

Außer der ewigen Wonne habe ich kein anderes Begehren; darum bleibe ich stets leer von äußeren Dingen. Selbst meine Gattin ist frei von äußeren Zielen—ihrer Natur nach ist sie nicht verblendet, doch erscheint sie, als wäre sie töricht.

Word by Word

• नित्यानन्दात्: from eternal bliss
• नित्यानन्दात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; समासः—कर्मधारयः (नित्यः आनन्दः)

• अन्यकामः: desiring something else
• अन्यकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; विशेषणम् (अहम्/मम)

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

• मे: of me / for me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• अस्ति: is, exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; causal/conclusive particle (तस्मात्-अर्थे)

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

• बहिरर्थैः: by external objects
• बहिरर्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहिः + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बहिःस्थितैः अर्थैः)

• च: and
• च: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• शून्यः: empty, devoid
• शून्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• बहिरर्थशून्या: devoid of external objects
• बहिरर्थशून्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहिरर्थ + शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बहिरर्थेषु शून्या)

• अमूढभावा: one whose nature is not deluded
• अमूढभावा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + मूढ + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्या मूढभावो नास्ति सा)

• मूढवती: as if deluded
• मूढवती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; simile particle (उपमा)

• दृश्यते: is seen, appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; 3rd Person, Singular; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya-ananda as the only true desire; outward-objectlessness; recognition that apparent simplicity/foolishness can mask non-delusion and inner clarity.

Vedantic Theme: Ananda as svarupa; lokavyavahara vs paramarthika drishti; jnani’s seeming ordinariness (avadhuta-like).

Application: Prioritize inner contentment over acquisition; refrain from judging others’ spiritual maturity by appearances; cultivate simplicity and steady joy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana thematic parallels on nitya-ananda, vairagya, and the hidden marks of wisdom (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (vairagya) in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents desirelessness rooted in “nityānanda” (ever-present bliss) as a mark of spiritual maturity—freedom from external aims that supports a calm, dharmic life and prepares one for the after-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing the absence of “any other desire,” the verse points to an inwardly established consciousness; such inner steadiness reduces bondage to outward objects, a key condition for moving toward liberation rather than remaining caught in post-death distress and attachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice reducing compulsive wants, simplify goals, and cultivate inner contentment; evaluate daily actions by whether they strengthen clarity (amūḍhabhāva) rather than chasing external validation or possessions.