Shloka 41

Devanagari script

तदेव विपरीतं चेज्ज्ञानाय परिकीर्तितम् / शिलायां विष्णुबुद्धिस्तु विष्णुबुद्धिर्द्विजे तथा

Transliteration

tadeva viparītaṃ cejjñānāya parikīrtitam / śilāyāṃ viṣṇubuddhistu viṣṇubuddhirdvije tathā

Translation

Wenn aber gerade das Gegenteil als „Erkenntnis“ verkündet wird, ist dies eine Verkehrung des Verstehens: einen bloßen Stein für Viṣṇu zu halten ist das eine; ebenso ist es geboten, eine solche „Viṣṇu-Gesinnung“ einem Brāhmaṇa gegenüber zu bewahren.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

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

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Niyama (नियम/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्ययम् (conditional particle ‘if’)

• ज्ञानाय: for knowledge
• ज्ञानाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचनम्; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (for the sake of)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is declared, is stated
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘(इति) परिकीर्तितम्’

• शिलायाम्: in a stone
• शिलायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम् (location)

• विष्णु-बुद्धिः: the notion that it is Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विष्णोः बुद्धिः’ (the notion/idea of Viṣṇu)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्ययम् (adversative/emphatic particle)

• विष्णु-बुद्धिः: the notion of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विष्णोः बुद्धिः’

• द्विजे: in a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम् (in/with regard to a brāhmaṇa)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakāra (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतार्थक-अव्ययम् (adverb ‘likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinguishing true jñāna from viparīta-jñāna; proper 'Viṣṇu-buddhi' is not indiscriminate projection but disciplined recognition aligned with śāstra and dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka against adhyāsa (superimposition); critique of confusing symbol, person, and absolute; dharmic hierarchy of reverence without collapsing all distinctions.

Application: Avoid calling every contrary notion 'knowledge'; practice discriminative devotion—honor sacred symbols appropriately and treat brāhmaṇas with due respect without confusing categories or indulging doctrinal shortcuts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.42-45 (continuation on viparīta-jñāna and Viṣṇu-buddhi)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmana (Dvija)

FAQs

What is the importance of Viṣṇu-buddhi in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that “Viṣṇu-consciousness” (seeing the divine) must be grounded in dharma and right understanding, not in inverted or superficial claims of knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing right knowledge and proper dharmic reverence, it implies that ethical perception and conduct support one’s spiritual trajectory, which in the Garuḍa Purāṇa context affects post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain discernment in spiritual claims, and practice respectful conduct toward learned, dharmic persons (dvijas/brāhmaṇas) while keeping devotion free from mere show or misunderstanding.