Shloka 48

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

अपरोक्षतिरोभाव ईषत्काले प्रदृश्यते / तावन्मात्रेण वाज्ञानं तस्यां नैवाहितं च यत्

Transliteration

aparokṣatirobhāva īṣatkāle pradṛśyate / tāvanmātreṇa vājñānaṃ tasyāṃ naivāhitaṃ ca yat

Translation

Das unmittelbare Erscheinen und sein Verschwinden werden in einem äußerst kurzen Augenblick gesehen; und in diesem bloßen Zwischenraum wird wahres Wissen dort keineswegs begründet.

Word by Word

• aparokṣa-tirobhāvaḥ: a concealment of direct perception
• aparokṣa-tirobhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (with pradṛśyate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aparokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tirobhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa ‘non-manifestation of directness / slight concealment of immediacy’

• īṣat-kāle: for a short time
• īṣat-kāle: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Avyayībhāva ‘at a slight time/for a short while’

• pradṛśyate: is perceived; appears
• pradṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• tāvat-mātreṇa: by that much alone
• tāvat-mātreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa ‘by that much alone’

• vā: or; indeed (emphatic)
• vā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive/optional particle (विकल्प-अव्यय)

• ajñānam: ignorance
• ajñānam: Karta (कर्ता) (with na...āhitam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyām: in her
• tasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• eva: at all; indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• āhitam: implanted; present
• āhitam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + dhā (धा धातु) (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) ‘placed/implanted’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• yat: which
• yat: Anuyogī (अनुयोगी/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣaṇikatva (momentariness) of manifestation cannot ground aparokṣa-jñāna; true knowledge requires steadiness beyond a fleeting flash.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguishing transient vṛtti/appearance from stable jñāna-niṣṭhā; critique of taking momentary experience as final realization.

Application: Do not mistake brief mystical flashes or passing clarity for established wisdom; cultivate sustained inquiry, śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana, and steadiness of mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.49; Garuda Purana 3.12.50; Garuda Purana 3.12.51; Garuda Purana 3.12.52

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of aparokṣa (direct realization) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse implies that a fleeting glimpse of direct experience is not sufficient; true aparokṣa-jñāna must become steady and established rather than appearing and vanishing momentarily.

How does this verse explain the difference between a brief spiritual experience and true knowledge?

It states that manifestation and disappearance can occur in an instant, but knowledge is not ‘set’ in that instant—indicating that transient perceptions are not the same as stabilized wisdom.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not mistake short-lived insights or emotional highs for lasting transformation; cultivate steady understanding through disciplined practice, reflection, and ethical living.