Shloka 40

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

काम्येन पूजनं विष्णोरैश्वर्यं प्रददाति च / ज्ञानं च विपरीतं स्यात्तेन यात्यधरं तमः

Transliteration

kāmyena pūjanaṃ viṣṇoraiśvaryaṃ pradadāti ca / jñānaṃ ca viparītaṃ syāttena yātyadharaṃ tamaḥ

Translation

Die Verehrung des Herrn Viṣṇu, die aus Verlangen nach weltlichem Gewinn geschieht, verleiht zwar Wohlstand und Macht; doch dadurch wird das Wissen verkehrt, und so sinkt man in eine niedrigere Finsternis hinab — in geistige Verblendung.

Word by Word

• काम्येन: by desire-motivated (act)
• काम्येन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—‘काम्य’ (desire-motivated)

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; क्रियायाः विषयः

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचनम्; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship, prosperity
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; कर्मपदम्

• प्रददाति: gives, bestows
• प्रददाति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; कर्तृपदम् (with स्यात्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विपरीतम्: perverted, contrary
• विपरीतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying ज्ञानम्)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्

• तेन: by that, thereby
• तेन: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम; हेतौ/करणे

• याति: goes, reaches
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्

• अधरम्: lower, downward
• अधरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying तमः)

• तमः: darkness, ignorance
• तमः: Karma (कर्म/Goal-Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; गन्तव्य/कर्मपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya-pūjā of Viṣṇu can yield worldly prosperity (aiśvarya) but risks viparīta-jñāna (distorted understanding), leading to deeper tamas.

Vedantic Theme: Phala-āśā strengthens ahaṅkāra and tamas; spiritual materialism corrupts discernment; need for sattva and niṣkāma orientation.

Application: If praying for outcomes, pair it with humility and detachment; regularly reorient to liberation; avoid equating success with spiritual progress.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.36-39 (kāmya worship; obstacle to mokṣa; vāsanā; guru-jñāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What does the Garuda Purana say about desire-based worship (kāmya pūjā)?

This verse states that kāmya worship of Viṣṇu can yield worldly prosperity (aiśvarya), but it can also invert or distort one’s understanding (viparīta jñāna), leading to tamas—spiritual darkness.

How does this verse relate to karma and spiritual downfall?

By tying devotion to personal gain, the mind clings to results; that attachment corrupts discernment (jñāna), and the resulting tamasic orientation becomes a cause for downward spiritual movement rather than liberation.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform worship and rituals with gratitude and ethical intent rather than bargaining for outcomes; seek inner purification and right understanding alongside any material responsibilities.