Shloka 8

Viṣṇu as Seed-Cause: Pañcarātra Emanations, Tattva-Unfolding, and the Avatāra Chronology

Devanagari script

अनन्यसाध्यं ब्रह्मचर्यं च कर्तुं दशेन्द्रियाणां शोषणार्थं सदैव / सनन्दनादौ पठितः कुमारस्तस्मान्नान्यो नात्र विचार्यमस्ति

Transliteration

ananyasādhyaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca kartuṃ daśendriyāṇāṃ śoṣaṇārthaṃ sadaiva / sanandanādau paṭhitaḥ kumārastasmānnānyo nātra vicāryamasti

Translation

Um Brahmacarya zu vollbringen—etwas, das durch kein anderes Mittel erreichbar ist—soll man stets die zehn Sinne „austrocknen“, das heißt ihre Kraft schwächen. Diese Zucht lehren die Kumāras, beginnend mit Sanandana; daher ist hier keine andere Möglichkeit zu erwägen.

Word by Word

• अनन्य-साध्यम्: achievable by none other
• अनन्य-साध्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ब्रह्मचर्यम्

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy/brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्तुम्: to perform
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to do/perform’

• दश-इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the ten senses
• दश-इन्द्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of the ten senses’

• शोषण-अर्थम्: for the purpose of drying up
• शोषण-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोषण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक तत्पुरुषः ‘शोषणस्य अर्थः’ = ‘for the purpose of drying up’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (always)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• सनन्दन-आदौ: among Sanandana and others
• सनन्दन-आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/among Sanandana and others’

• पठितः: is recited/mentioned
• पठितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative with कुमारः

• कुमारः: the Kumāra
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/तद्-प्रयोग)
• Form: हेतुवाचक/अपादानवाचक अव्यय (therefore/from that)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Deśa/Viṣaya-adhikaraṇa (देश/विषयाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here/in this matter)

• विचार्यम्: to be deliberated
• विचार्यम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: णीयत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be considered’

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmacarya is secured by systematic attenuation of the ten senses (five jnanendriyas + five karmendriyas); no alternative method supersedes sense-restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha as prerequisite for śama-dama and steady mind leading to knowledge/realization; mastery over vrittis as doorway to liberation.

Application: Adopt daily sense-discipline: regulated diet and media, guarded speech, mindful routines, celibacy/continence as per capacity, and consistent meditation to weaken compulsive sensory pull.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/teaching lineage (symbolic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: teachings on sadachara, brahmacarya, and indriya-nigraha (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Sanandana
• Kumaras
• Indriyas

FAQs

What is the importance of brahmacarya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents brahmacarya as a uniquely effective discipline, stating it is accomplished through sustained weakening of the ten senses, as taught by the Kumāras.

How does this verse explain the path of spiritual progress?

It emphasizes that spiritual steadiness comes from indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint): by reducing the force of sensory impulses, one becomes fit for higher knowledge and liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily sense-discipline—moderate food, speech, and sexual impulse; reduce overstimulation; and keep consistent vows or routines that train the mind to not chase sense-objects.